A brilliant stoppage-time equaliser from substitute Anthony Pilkington extended second-placed Cardiff's unbeaten run to 13 Championship games as they battled for a 1-1 draw at Sheffield United.
Leon Clarke had given the hosts a 28th-minute lead, and that goal for a long time looked like it would be enough to send the Blades sixth.
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But Republic of Ireland midfielder Pilkington - a 78th-minute replacement for Kenneth Zohore - volleyed in a dramatic leveller in added-on time to move the Bluebirds eight points clear of third-spotted Fulham.
Another Ireland midfielder, Alan Browne, missed a penalty as Preston's play-off hopes took a hit.
Tom Lawrence struck the only goal of the game in the 53rd minute as fifth-placed Derby County recorded their first win in nine games.
Sean Maguire started up top for the Lilywhites, with Greg Cunningham marshalling their defence.
Meanwhile another Ireland international, Alex Pearce, excelled for the visitors in a disciplined, gutsy performance.
🔵⚪️🔵⚪️#QPRvNOR pic.twitter.com/OhPFNxkBwR
— QPR FC (@QPRFC) April 2, 2018
Galway man Ryan Manning had an eventful afternoon.
The Republic of Ireland Under-21 defender put through his own net and then made amends with QPR's fourth goal as the west Londoners thumped Norwich 4-1 at Loftus Road.
Massimo Luongo, Matt Smith and Eberechi Eze were all also on target for the hosts, who fell behind thanks to Manning's own goal, before taking full control.
Britt Assombalonga's first goal in 14 matches rescued Middlesbrough a point at basement boys Burton Albion.
Striker Assombalonga's first goal since St Stephen's Day salvaged a last-gasp 1-1 draw for Middlesbrough that denied the hosts a priceless win in their bid to avoid the drop.
Marvin Sordell's first goal in 19 matches looked to have sealed a vital win for Burton, only for Assombalonga to level in the 90th minute.
Middlesbrough's late equaliser kept Burton bottom of the table, but Albion were able to draw level on points with Sunderland, who lost out 3-1 at home to Sheffield Wednesday.
Lucas Joao, Tom Lees and Atdhe Nuhui all hit the net for Wednesday, with Sunderland only able to reply through George Honeyman.
2 years waiting but it was worth the wait 🇮🇪🐝⚽️💪
— alan judge (@10judgey) April 2, 2018
Bristol City missed out on the chance to jump ahead of Middlesbrough and into the play-off berths, with substitute Neal Maupay's late strike stealing Brentford a 1-0 win on the road.
Alan Judge made his first start for the Bees in two years, managing 74 minutes in another major step forward in his recovery from a dreadful leg break.
He came off the bench for the last ten minutes of the Republic of Ireland's 1-0 defeat in Turkey ten days ago.
Martyn Waghorn hit two goals in as many minutes as Ipswich drew 2-2 at home with Millwall, who had Jake Cooper and George Saville on target.
Nottingham Forest's home clash with Barnsley was postponed due to a waterlogged City Ground pitch.
