Richard Chaplow and Jos Hooiveld struck early as Southampton extended their lead at the top of the npower Championship to five points with a 2-1 win over gutsy Peterborough at St Mary's.
Nigel Adkins' Saints were 2-0 up inside 17 minutes but the expected deluge failed to materialise after Lee Frecklington was sent off for a second bookable offence 10 minutes before the break.
Instead Darren Ferguson's men battled back and reduced the deficit in the 76th minute through Emile Sinclair, leading to some anxious moments before the home side kept their 100% record intact.
Second-placed West Ham lost ground with a goalless draw against struggling Bristol City at Upton Park, Mark Noble's missed late header summing up the frustrations of Sam Allardyce's men, while the point was enough to take the Robins off the bottom.
Doncaster plunged to the bottom after a 3-1 home defeat to Middlesbrough, who moved up to third. Billy Sharp scored the opener for the home side but Barry Robson (twice) and Marvin Emnes responded for Tony Mowbray's men.
Crystal Palace, who started the night in third, were held to a goalless home draw by Portsmouth while Hull's nine-match unbeaten run came to an end in a 2-1 defeat at Barnsley, for whom Craig Davies and Andy Gray scored early in the second half before Matty Fryatt responded.
Managerless Leicester heaped more woe on struggling Burnley with a 3-1 win at Turf Moor. Paul Konchesky's opener was cancelled out by a Ross Wallace header, but second-half goals from David Nugent and Paul Gallagher claimed the points.
Brighton lost more ground as they were beaten 1-0 by a 77th-minute Troy Deeney strike at struggling Watford, while Marcus Tudgay's 75th-minute effort was enough to steer Nottingham Forest past Reading 1-0 at the City Ground.
Fast-improving Millwall left Coventry languishing in the bottom three after a convincing 3-0 win at the New Den. Darius Henderson scored twice early in the second half and Liam Feeney added a late third.
Source: PA
