Southampton maintained their position as pacesetters in the npower Championship with a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Middlesbrough, who had began the afternoon in third spot.
Two headed goals from Brazilian midfielder Guly Do Prado put the Saints on the march, and substitute David Connolly hammered in a third.
West Ham beat Leicester 3-2 as Sam Baldock and Julien Faubert made it 2-0 to the Hammers at the break at Upton Park. Andy King gave the visitors some hope before Baldock scored again on the break. King then scored a brilliant second to set up a thrilling finish but the match ended 3-2 to the Hammers with Sam Allardyce's side maintaining second spot.
Steve Cotterill's 100% start as Nottingham Forest manager came to end at home to Hull. Aaron Mclean was the hero for the visitors with a late winner and the Tigers are one of four clubs in the play-off spots all on 24 points.
Derby set off at a gallop at home to Portsmouth to maintain their challenge at the top. Craig Bryson opened the scoring in the third minute, Chris Maguire struck from close range to extend the Rams' lead and Jamie Ward made it 3-0. Jason Pearce hit a consolation but the score ended 3-1.
The clash between fellow strugglers at Doncaster ended 1-1 despite visitors Coventry taking the lead through Sammy Clingan's super strike. James Hayter equalised on the hour mark to leave both clubs still in the bottom three.
Bristol City grabbed an injury-time winner at Barnsley but still remain bottom. Albert Adomah put the visitors ahead, Craig Davies equalised before Nicky Maynard's last-gasp heroics earned a 2-1 win.
Millwall survived a fightback by Ipswich to chalk up at 4-1 win. The Lions raced into a 2-0 lead through Jay Simpson and Darius Henderson. Jimmy Bullard gave Ipswich hope with a strike from the edge of the box but Liam Feeney and Simpson ended the contest.
There was a goal-fest too at Watford where Marvin Sordell scored twice, once from the spot, to add to Mark Yeates' opener as the home side claimed a 3-2 win against Peterborough. Lee Frecklington and Emile Sinclair replied for the visitors, with all five goals coming in the first half.
Birmingham v Brighton and Crystal Palace v Reading both ended as goalless draws.
Source: PA
