Palace back on top; Hull into fourth as Watford climb into top six
Crystal Palace moved to the top of the Championship after a 3-0 win over arch-rivals Brighton, whilst Watford moved into the play-off places.
With Middlesbrough losing on Friday evening and previous leaders Cardiff not playing until Sunday, Palace had the chance to move back to the summit and they took it with both hands.
Brighton had Lewis Dunk sent off within the opening 10 minutes and Palace capitalised on their extra man with top-scorer Glenn Murray netting in each half. Murray then passed up the chance to convert a penalty for his hat-trick as he gave the ball to Owen Garvan to stroke home the third.
Leicester City are third, two points adrift of Cardiff, following a thumping 4-1 victory over Derby County in the day's late game. Theo Robinson gave the Rams hope after early goals from Zak Whitbread and Martyn Waghorn, but a David Nugent double sealed an emphatic win.
Hull City kept up their promotion bid with a 2-1 win at Nottingham Forest. The two sides each converted penalties with Robert Koren and Billy Sharp netting before Paul McShane headed home the winner with 20 minutes left.
Watford's excellent run of form continued as they beat Barnsley 4-1 at Vicarage Road with a Troy Deeney brace and goals from Mark Yeats and Matej Vydra doing the damage. Marcus Tudgay added a consolation in stoppage time.
Millwall dropped out of the play-off places after playing out a goalless draw with South London rivals Charlton.
Leeds United are in the top half of the table after they sealed a 4-2 win over Yorkshire neighbours Huddersfield in the day's early kick-off with Luciano Becchio helping himself to a brace.
Blackpool also returned to the top half after they claimed a 4-1 win at bottom-of-the-table Peterborough United. After a goalless first-half at London Road, on-loan forward Wes Thomas fired them ahead shortly before Thomas Ince converted a penalty.
Dwight Gayle, on loan from Dagenham & Redbridge, then opened his Peterborough account with 19 minutes left but Blackpool added two more late goals through Nouha Dicko and another from Ince to seal the win.
Bristol City remain in the bottom three after they were hammered 4-1 at home by Wolves. All the goals for the visitors came before half-time with Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, Kevin Doyle and Bjorn Sigurdarson scoring. Neil Danns hit a late consolation for The Robins.
Ipswich moved three points clear of the drop zone after a late Michael Chopra strike gave them a 2-1 win at Bolton. Mark Davies had put the home side ahead early on but DJ Campbell levelled from the spot before Chopra struck in the final minute.
