Soccer-Wolves stay 11 points clear as top four all win

Soccer Football - Championship - Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Sheffield United - Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton, Britain - Febraury 3, 2018 Wolves' Ruben Neves celebrates scoring their first goal Action Images/Craig Brough

LONDON (Reuters) - Wolverhampton Wanderers maintained their 11-point lead at the top of the English Championship (second tier) on Saturday with a 3-0 win at home to playoff contenders Sheffield United, who finished with 10 men after goalkeeper Simon Moore was sent off.

All three goals came from the club's large Portuguese contingent: Ruben Neves and Diogo Jota scored in the first half and Ivan Cavaleiro added the third.

Second-placed Derby County beat 10-man Brentford 3-0 to stay in the second automatic promotion position.

Soccer Football - Championship - Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Sheffield United - Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton, Britain - Febraury 3, 2018 Wolves' Dioga Jota scores their second goal Action Images/Craig Brough

Aston Villa's sixth successive win, 3-2 at home to bottom club Burton Albion, kept them only a point behind.

Cardiff City manager Neil Warnock enjoyed a 4-1 away win on his return to former club Leeds United as his side went three points clear of Fulham and Bristol City.

Hull City and Sunderland, both Premier League clubs last season, remained in the bottom three with Burton after losing to Preston North End and Ipswich Town respectively.

Soccer Football - Championship - Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Sheffield United - Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton, Britain - Febraury 3, 2018 Sheffield United's Leon Clarke (L) in action with Wolves' Willy Boly Action Images/Craig Brough

(Reporting by Steve Tongue; Editing by Clare Fallon)

Soccer Football - Championship - Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Sheffield United - Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton, Britain - Febraury 3, 2018 Sheffield United's Simon Moore fouls Wolves' Dioga Jota and is subsequently sent off via a straight red card Action Images/Craig Brough

Soccer Football - Championship - Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Sheffield United - Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton, Britain - Febraury 3, 2018 Wolves' Dioga Jota scores their second goal Action Images/Craig Brough

Soccer Football - Championship - Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Sheffield United - Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton, Britain - Febraury 3, 2018 Wolves' Dioga Jota celebrates scoring their second goal Action Images/Craig Brough

Soccer Football - Championship - Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Sheffield United - Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton, Britain - Febraury 3, 2018 Wolves' Dioga Jota celebrates with team mates after scoring their second goal Action Images/Craig Brough