Brighton blew a two-goal lead to draw at Queen's Park Rangers as Middlesbrough beat Burnley to go top of the Sky Bet Championship.
The Seagulls, looking to make it 21 league matches unbeaten, went ahead at Loftus Road on 52 minutes through Dale Stephens' acrobatic effort.
It was soon 2-0 when on-loan Wolves midfielder Rajiv van La Parra (55) saw a speculative long-range shot find its way past QPR keeper Robert Green.
However, the Hoops, under new boss Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, reduced the deficit through Charlie Austin (65).
Brighton defender Lewis Dunk collected a second yellow card and was sent off for a foul on Alejandro Faurlin, which proved costly as Austin equalised from a corner with just two minutes left.
Hasselbaink's men came close to a dramatic victory during stoppage-time when QPR winger Matt Phillips saw a long-range effort hit the outside of the post.
Middlesbrough made the most of Brighton's slip up as they beat play-off hopefuls Burnley 1-0 at the Riverside Stadium with a close-range second-half goal from Emilio Nsue (54).
A hat-trick from Tom Ince helped Derby keep pace with the leaders following a 4-0 win over Bristol City at the iPro Stadium.
After both sides went close by hitting the woodwork, Ince (42) put the Rams ahead just before the break.
The winger made it 2-0 on 63 minutes with a deflected effort before completing his treble on 71 minutes when he converted Darrent Bent's cross.
Forward Johnny Russell (74) headed in a fourth to put Derby above Hull, who host Reading on Wednesday.
Kenwyne Jones scored in stoppage time as Cardiff beat Brentford 3-2, having almost blown a two-goal lead at home again.
Tony Watt's close-range effort (20) put Cardiff ahead before Jones (34) doubled the lead.
The Bees pulled a goal back through Jake Bidwell (69) and looked to have secured a point with just four minutes left when John Swift netted from close range, only for Jones to strike again in stoppage time.
Four goals were shared at The Valley, where bottom club Bolton produced a dramatic recovery against Charlton.
The Addicks had raced into the lead when teenager Ademola Lookman scored inside 30 seconds, and the 18-year-old made it 2-0 from close range after 26 minutes.
However, Bolton mounted a remarkable comeback when veteran frontman Emile Heskey slotted in his first goal for almost a year, and then Josh Vela (42) levelled things up for Neil Lennon's beleaguered side with a deflected 25-yard strike.
Ipswich won 2-1 at managerless Fulham to keep themselves in the play-off hunt.
The Tractor Boys were 1-0 up almost straight from kick off as Freddie Sears drove the ball in from the edge of the penalty area after a surging run.
However, Fulham, under the guidance of senior coach Stuart Gray, equalised after 14 minutes through a long-range free-kick from Ross McCormack.
Ipswich regained the lead just before the hour when Brett Pitman (57) converted Sears' cross, which proved enough to take the points back to Suffolk.
Huddersfield beat struggling Rotherham 2-0 to keep themselves well clear off the bottom three with goals from Gambian midfielder Mustapha Carayol (31) and substitute Ishmael Miller (73).
MK Dons picked up a valuable 2-1 home win over Sheffield Wednesday, as winger Carl Baker (25) and Nicky Maynard (50) were on target.
The Owls pulled a goal back through on loan Norwich frontman Gary Hooper (77), but could not conjure an equaliser.
At Deepdale, Preston and Birmingham drew 1-1.
On-loan Middlesbrough midfielder Adam Reach (19) put the hosts ahead when his right-wing cross ended up in the net.
Birmingham levelled on 67 minutes when captain Michael Morrison headed in a corner, which the referee ruled had crossed the line despite being hacked away, and secured a point which keeps them on the fringes of the top six.
Source: PA
