Derby cruised to the top of the Championship with a 5-0 lunchtime demolition of Wolves at the iPro Stadium.
Wolves had no answer to the movement and invention of Derby as Jeff Hendrick and Johnny Russell both scored twice after Ryan Shotton headed the opener to give Steve McClaren's team their biggest win since March.
In-form pair Middlesbrough and Bournemouth missed the chance to make Derby's stay at the top a short one as they played out a 0-0 draw later in the day.
Adam Reach came closest to stealing the points for the home side only to rattle the crossbar.
In stark contrast there was late drama at the City Ground where two goals in the last five minutes from strike pair Britt Assombalonga and Michail Antonio helped Nottingham Forest end their torrid run of form with a 2-1 win over Norwich.
Forest had looked destined for a 10th league game without a win when Norwich took the lead through Jonny Howson, only for Stuart Pearce's men to secure a much-needed win.
Leeds arrested an eight-game winless run and Neil Redfearn tasted his first victory as permanent head coach as Blackpool were beaten 3-1 at Elland Road.
His first two games yielded a point but the slump was halted against the league's bottom side, with Liam Cooper, Souleymane Doukara and Mirco Antenucci all doing the damage by half-time.
That ensured the second half was a less-than-entertaining affair, although an improved showing from Blackpool and a consolation from Nile Ranger at least offers new manager Lee Clark some hope for after the international break.
Fulham climbed out of the bottom three with a 3-1 victory over Huddersfield as they continued their revival under Kit Symons.
Goals from Hugo Rodallega, Lasse Vigen Christensen and Ross McCormack saw off the Terriers, who dominated for long periods and looked the more likelier to win the game after drawing level via Joel Lynch with 15 minutes remaining.
Tommy Smith's 83rd-minute goal was enough to earn Ipswich the points in a closely-fought 1-0 win over Watford.
The two sides were evenly matched, both enjoying chances before the Town centre-back hammered in from close range after a well-worked free-kick from the home side.
Millwall defender Danny Shittu scored at either end as Brentford continued their playoff push with a 3-2 victory over the Lions.
The hosts found themselves 2-0 down after Andre Gray's double either side of half-time, though Millwall fought back with two goals in two minutes from Shittu and Alan Dunne -- his first since March 2013 -- just before the hour mark.
But Shittu's unfortunate own goal handed the Bees victory, their third in a row, and with it a place in the top six.
Striker Rudy Gestede continued his hot goalscoring form with his 10th of the season to give Blackburn a 1-1 draw at Brighton and extend their unbeaten run to seven games.
Gestede's tremendous header early into the second half cancelled out Gary Gardner`s second goal in successive matches just before the interval.
A resilient defensive display helped Charlton end their run of three Championship matches without a win when they defeated Reading 1-0 at the Madejski Stadium.
A scrappy game was settled towards the end of the first half, when Charlton's leading goalscorer Igor Vetokele headed in from close range.
Sheffield Wednesday's home drought continued as their South Yorkshire derby with Rotherham ended goalless at Hillsborough, while Gary Rowett's unbeaten start as Birmingham manager continued with a spirited 0-0 stalemate against Cardiff.