Grant Leadbitter kept up his perfect penalty record this season as Middlesbrough snatched a 1-0 win at promotion rivals Brentford.
The Boro skipper made it eight from eight from the spot a minute before half-time in the lunchtime kick off to fire Aitor Karanka's in-form side back to within a point of leaders Bournemouth.
And Leadbitter proved to be the hero at both ends, blocking James Tarkowski's goalbound header on the line to ensure they picked up three valuable points.
Chris Martin fired Derby to a comfortable 2-0 win at Cardiff to keep them level with the Cherries at the top.
Martin missed a penalty but responded by heading home his 19th goal of the season.
That was after Scott Malone's own-goal gave Derby the lead at the Cardiff City Stadium that they rarely looked like surrendering and only goal difference keeps them off the top of the table.
Substitute Billy Sharp scored a late winner with his first touch as Leeds beat Huddersfield 2-1.
Sharp headed in fellow substitute Mirco Antenucci's cross at the far post to secure a West Yorkshire derby victory.
Leeds had made the perfect start when Sam Byram lobbed Terriers keeper Joe Murphy only for Harry Bunn to level.
Jamie O'Hara's first goal for Blackpool earned the Championship's bottom side a 1-0 victory at home to fellow strugglers Brighton.
The former Tottenham midfielder's stunning strike broke Brighton's three-game winning streak away from home.
Jordan Rhodes proved to be the difference as Blackburn ended a five-match winless league run with a 2-1 victory over Fulham at Ewood Park.
Ben Marshall calmly slotted home before Rhodes headed in his 10th of the campaign. But Fulham rallied and Ross McCormack tapped in his 11th of the season to ensure a nervy finish.
Millwall striker Ricardo Fuller scored in a 1-0 win to pile more pressure on the shoulders of Nottingham Forest manager Stuart Pearce.
Substitute James Henry rescued an unlikely point for Wolves with a stunning long range stoppage time strike as they claimed a 2-2 draw at Bolton.
Henry's shot spoiled what looked like a dream debut for Championship newcomer Zach Clough, who struck twice in three first half minutes.
Instead, Henry came up with a spectacular point saver with virtually the last kick of the game after Nouha Dicko had given them an early lead.
Elsewhere, Sheffield Wednesday's dwindling hopes of securing a playoff place suffered another setback as they were beaten 2-0 by lowly Reading.
Lacklustre Wednesday trailed 2-0 at half-time, with Reading deservedly ahead through goals from Pavel Pogrebnyak and Nathaniel Chalobah.
Charlton and Rotherham played out a 1-1 draw which saw Jordan Cousins and Danny Ward both net late on.
Ipswich lost ground on the Championship high-flyers after a dour goalless draw at home to lowly Wigan while playoff hopefuls Birmingham and Norwich also played out a stalemate.