Brighton and Hove Albion edged closer to securing promotion as they leapfrogged Newcastle United to move top of the Championship with a 3-1 win over Birmingham City.
Yann Kermorgant followed up his stunning strike against Leeds United with a brace against relegation-threatened Blackburn Rovers as Reading moved clear of fellow promotion hopefuls Leeds and Huddersfield Town.
David Nugent enjoyed a mixed outing at Pride Park as Fulham slumped to a 4-2 defeat to a resurgent Derby County, while Preston North End recorded a 5-0 victory over lowly Bristol City.
Sheffield Wednesday moved into the top six thanks to a 2-0 win at already-relegated Rotherham United.
TABLE: ! go third; sixth.
At the other end, no change the bottom five all lost.
— Sky Bet Championship (@SkyBetChamp)
SEAGULLS SOARING HIGH
Glenn Murray s second-minute effort ensured that Brighton got off to an ideal start against Birmingham, as Chris Hughton s men eased their way to the top of the table.
Quick-fire strikes from Tomer Hemed and Uwe Hunemeier put the result beyond all doubt early in the second half, though Che Adams did snatch a late consolation for the visitors.
The victory lifts Brighton onto 83 points, two clear of Newcastle who host Burton Albion on Wednesday and 10 clear of third-placed Reading, with a first return to top-flight football since 1983 seemingly all-but secured.
Tonight s victory was s 25th of the season, and a record number for the club in the top two tiers. Beats 24 in 2012/13 season.
— BHAFC (@OfficialBHAFC)
LEEDS AND FULHAM SLIP UP
It was bad news for Leeds and Fulham, as Kermorgant s double inspired Reading to a 3-1 win over a lacklustre Blackburn.
That result puts Reading on 73 points, four clear of Leeds who went down 2-0 to two first-half goals from Brentford.
Fulham, meanwhile, dropped out of the play-off places as they were thumped by Derby, with Nugent netting three as well as missing a penalty.
Player of the Night?
It has to be s hat-trick hero, David Nugent!
— EFL (@EFL)
PRESTON RUN RIOT AT DEEPDALE
Four goals in the space of 21 second-half minutes secured a comprehensive triumph for Preston over struggling Bristol City, who sit one point above the drop zone.
Simon Grayson s side are now five matches unbeaten in the league, and the Preston boss will be hopeful of closing further ground on the play-off places when his side travel to former employer s Leeds next time out.
