Portsmouth maintained their two-point lead at the top of Nationwide Division One with a crushing 6-2 win over Derby. Portsmouth cruised into a three-goal lead thanks to goals from Paul Merson, Yacubu Ayegbini and Matthew Taylor.
Derby however fought back with Lee Morris scoring just before the hour mark and Giorgi Kinkladze further reducing the arrears from the penalty spot. However, Derby's hopes were dashed when Svetoslav Todorov scored a fourth for the hosts, and Ayegbini netted his second.
Elsewhere Leicester hammered Walsall 4-1 at the Bescot Stadium.Just before half-time, goals from Paul Dickov and Jamie Scowcroft put City in control. Matt Elliott powered in a header midway through the second half to seal it and Scowcroft scored his second of the afternoon to cap a fine display. Martin O'Connor scored a late consolation for the hosts.
Sheffield United threw away a two-goal lead at Portman Road as 10-man Ipswich fought back to claim a 3-2 win. Wolves slipped out of the play-off places as Brighton shrugged off their poor form to move off the bottom of the table thanks to a 4-1 win at the Withdean Stadium.
Sheffield Wednesday staged a fine second-half recovery to rescue a 2-2 draw at home to play-off contenders Norwich. Early goals from Eddie Lewis and Lee Cartwright gave Preston a 2-1 victory over Millwall at Deepdale.
Goals from Michael Boulding and Christopher Thompson earned Grimsby a 2-0 home win over Stoke. Rotherham fought back with goals from Martin McIntosh and Chris Swailes to beat Watford 2-1 after falling behind to Tommy Smith's opener.
Wimbledon twice fought back from a goal down against Bradford to claim a 2-2 draw.
