Crystal Palace's win at Stoke saw them sneak into the play-offs, while City missed out on top spot.
Fine Eagles display downs City
Stoke missed the opportunity to climb to the summit of the Championship after falling to a 2-1 home defeat to Crystal Palace, a result that lifts Neil Warnock's side into the play-offs.
Palace move up to sixth at the expense of Wolves, whilst Stoke continue to trail Bristol City following an entertaining game at the Britannia Stadium.
Warnock's enterprising Eagles went in at the half-time interval two goals ahead courtesy of Tom Soares' header and a stunning strike from defender Jose Fonte.
Stoke squandered a number of opportunities to get back into the most frenetic of contests and while Glenn Whelan's sublime effort raised a cheer, it ultimately proved to be in vain.
Stoke had threatened straight from the kick-off and had a chance to break the deadlock in the first minute when Andy Griffin whipped a low cross into the penalty area but the Palace defence were able to clear their lines.
Victor Moses then responded for Palace moments later with a jinking run before he curled a shot over the bar from the corner of the 18-yard box.
Bright start
The Potters hit the woodwork in the ninth minute when Mamady Sidibe rose to meet a long throw-in from Rory Delap. Sidibe's header crashed against the post with goalkeeper Julian Speroni well beaten and rolled across the face of goal but no Stoke players were able to follow up.
But it was Palace who broke the deadlock 12 minutes later against the run of play.
On-loan Chelsea winger Scott Sinclair found space down the right flank and delivered a dangerous ball into the penalty area. Soares evaded the attention of the Stoke defence and powerfully headed the ball past goalkeeper Carlo Nash from close range.
Tony Pulis' side responded and on-loan Derby midfielder Stephen Pearson lashed a long-range shot at goal in the 29th minute which flew just over the crossbar. Sidibe was then sent clear six minutes before the interval but was denied after a superb last-ditch tackle from Eagles defender Fonte.
Fonte then doubled Palace's advantage on the stroke of half-time when he latched on to a loose ball on the edge of penalty area. The Palace centre-back unleashed a superb first-time shot which flew past Nash and into the top-right corner of the net.
Strong response
The Potters began the second half positively and Richard Cresswell's drive from a narrow angle was tipped over the bar by Speroni seven minutes after the interval.
Speroni then produced a fantastic save to deny substitute Ricardo Fuller in the 69th minute. The former Portsmouth striker raced on to a long ball into the penalty area but Speroni narrowed the angle and dived to his left to block the shot.
Palace made a rare foray into the Stoke half in the 74th minute and Sinclair created a shooting opportunity but his effort flew into the side netting.
Stoke's pressure eventually paid off in the 84th minute when Whelan pulled a goal back. The midfielder found space outside the penalty and struck a powerful right-footed shot which beat the dive of Speroni and flew into the top-right corner of the net.
Stoke pressed for an equaliser but the Palace defence were not to be breached for a second time and held on to claim maximum points.
