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So, the New Year football comes to an end as Wolves pick up in 2018 where they left off in 2017.

Winning. Relentlessly winning. They must be Premier League-bound. Even now.

There's also some joy in the West Midlands at the other end of the table, as Birmingham City dragged themselves off the canvas and away from the foot of the table with a second straight win.

Throw in some delight for Fulham after Ipswich's collapse. It's been an exciting Tuesday night of football.

This weekend we're all about the FA Cup. Why not join us? Goal highlights, all the action covered. Nowhere better to be.

Until then, good night, and happy new year.

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Enjoyable reading for Birmingham fans. You're off the bottom. That's got to be worth a bottle of whatever left-over Christmas plonk you've got in the fridge?

Sunderland fans. Sorry. Reading fans. Ditto. Bit of a departure from last season...

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It's a healthy lead isn't it? Some 14 points clear of Cardiff outside the two automatic places.

Start dreaming of Old Trafford and the like, Wolves fans.

It's a win for Birmingham that is as crucially important for them in lifting them off the foot of the Championship table as it is crushing for Reading and Jaap Stam.

Steve Cotterill has masterminded back-to-back league wins for the first time since the final day of last season when he and Harry Redknapp celebrated securing their Championship status.

Jacques Maghoma has played a massive part in their revival, scoring matchwinners in back-to-back games, while Sam Gallagher's effort game them valuable breathing space.

We've seen Leonid Slutsky, Garry Monk, Carlos Carvahal and Mark Warburton as managerial casualties in recent weeks from the Championship... Jaap Stam will be a nervous man.

Into four minutes of added time. Will Blues be able to hang on and record back-to-back wins? It looks that way.

Birmingham breathe a sigh of relief as Yann Kermogant had a crack which flicked off David Davis and onto the crossbar.

David Stockdale gathers. Reading puff out the cheeks. Birmingham exhale.

Time ticking away at the Mad Stad, and Birmingham have had the better of the chances as we close in toward full-time.

Vito Mannone puts himself between the ball and goal to deny Marc Roberts, and Harley Dean goes close with the second bite of the cherry but the ball is cleared.

Is there a late sting in the tale?

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One of the strangest seven or eight minutes of football you will ever see.

Ipswich led at half-time after Joe Garner nodded in a Martyn Waghorn free-kick, and it was all going swimmingly until the red card for Jordan Spence, for an off-the-ball lunge. No need at all. Daft.

With Town down to 10, Fulham woke up and cut loose, Ryan Sessegnon and Aboubakar Kamara scoring two apiece in an eight-minute flurry.

They could have had more. Four was enough. Four points off the play-offs.

Not long to go. Could have been five but Aboubakar Kamara put wide when well placed. Few bookings between the two sides just to finish off...

Wolves get a big result on an emotional night for all of a gold and black persuasion, coming on the day that the passing of John 'Foz' Hendley put a cloud over the club.

Ruben Neves, Barry Douglas and Diogo Jota put the ball in the net to seal a 3-0 win that puts Wolves 12 points clear at the top of the Championship.

Massive night for them.

Brentford have quality, they played some fine football but Wolves are irresistible - not many teams will have the class to keep them out this season.

Five minutes of injury time in a five-goal thriller. Ipswich will be counting down the seconds.

Wonder what Mick McCarthy has in store for Jordan Spence after that immensely costly red card?

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Ivan Cavaliero not far away from a fourth as he powered his header into the turf and up but it is over the top.

Brentford won't be made to suffer a fourth as it stands. Into four minutes of injury time.

Ryan Sessegnon gets a rousing reception from the Craven Cottage crowd as he makes way for Fulham to be replaced by Rafa Soares. Two key goals for him.

Bartosz Bialkowski has actually had to make a couple of saves to keep it to four, with Aboubakar Kamara and Tom Cairney both spurned by the Pole.

David Stockdale again adding to his personal collection of saves to deny Pelle Clement as Reading rush for a goal to reduce their arrears.

I can't say that the home side are truly causing many problems. Birmingham you sense have this game in the bag.

Wolves have the bit between their teeth, seemingly trying to keep up with Fulham in the 'How many goals can we score in the space of seven minutes?' category.

Bright Enobakhare, on for Diogo Jota, goes close, then Leo Bonatini unable to tuck away.

Brentford at the other end deserve something but Nico Yennaris' effort sails over the crossbar.

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What a farcially brilliant passage of play across the three games. We just had six Championship goals in eight minutes.

Just to keep you up to date:

• Wolves 3-0 Brentford
• Fulham 4-1 Ipswich
• Reading 0-2 Birmingham