Wolverhampton Wanderers picked up another crucial victory to remain top of the Championship table on Tuesday night, while Aston Villa suffered a huge blow in their automatic promotion ambitions.

Nuno Espirito Santo's charges recorded a straightforward 3-0 win over Reading at Molineux, Matt Doherty scoring a brace either side of Benik Afobe's strike just before the hour mark.

Victory for Wolves kept them three points clear of second-placed Cardiff City, who came from behind to beat Brentford 3-1 at Griffin Park.

Neal Maupay struck after just five minutes for the Bees, but Neil Warnock's charges surged to victory through goals from Sol Bamba, Callum Paterson and Kenneth Zohore.

Aston Villa, meanwhile, fell to a shock 3-1 defeat at the hands of Queens Park Rangers at Villa Park, which saw Steve Bruce's side fall seven points behind the Bluebirds.

Goals from Ryan Manning, Jake Bidwell and Luke Freeman had given the visitors a three-goal lead in the West Midlands before James Chester rifled home in a late consolation for the Villans.

Hull City's revival took another positive step forward thanks to a 3-0 win at Ipswich Town as Markus Henriksen, Harry Wilson and Jarrod Bowen struck to edge the Tigers nine points clear of the dropzone.

Elsewhere, struggling Burton Albion fell to a 2-0 defeat by Sheffield United to remain in the bottom three, while Barnsley had to settle for a point in a 1-1 draw with Norwich City which kept them just clear of the danger zone.

Results in full: Aston Villa 1-3 Queens Park Rangers, Barnsley 1-1 Norwich City, Brentford 1-3 Cardiff City, Ipswich Town 0-3 Hull City, Sheffield United 2-0 Burton Albion, Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-0 Reading