Kevin Long was on the mark as Birmingham City cruised to a first win in six games by beating fellow strugglers Rotherham United 2-0.
The Blues took the lead in the fifth minute when on-loan Brighton winger Reda Khadra he bagged his third goal for the Blues.
The home side continued to dominate and deservedly doubled their lead on the 35-minute mark when Long smashed home from close range.
The Millers never truly threatened John Ruddy's goal, but Connor Washington called him into action in the second half when his long-range strike was pushed away.
Preston kept their slim play-off hopes alive as goals from Ireland underage international Tom Cannon and Ched Evans earned them a 2-0 win over strugglers Cardiff in a feisty affair at Deepdale.
Cannon opened the scoring with a blistering second-half strike and Evans sealed the points at the death after Cardiff goalkeeper Jak Alnwick was sent off to extend the Lilywhites' unbeaten run to six games
Kion Etete and Jaden Philogene-Bidace went close for Cardiff but they remain six points above the relegation zone and saw a goalkeeper sent off in stoppage time for the second week running.
Middlesbrough ramped up the pressure on second-placed Sheffield United as the automatic-promotion race heated up.
The Blades seemed to be cruising into the Premier League along with Burnley a few weeks ago, but a 1-0 home defeat to Luton and Boro's 3-1 win at Swansea closed the gap to four points.
Carlton Morris’ 15th goal of the season gave fourth-placed Luton victory at Bramall Lane.
And after Joel Piroe gave the Swans a half-time lead, Aaron Ramsey and Cameron Archer struck in the space of four minutes early in the second half before Chuba Akpom netted his 23rd strike of the campaign from the penalty spot to give Michael Carrick’s side hope of a top-two finish.
Nathan Tella took his goal tally for the campaign to 16 as leaders Burnley’s charge for the Premier League continued with a 3-0 victory over Lancashire rivals Wigan at Turf Moor.
The on-loan Southampton forward headed in the opener after 14 minutes and struck again two minutes after half-time, with Lyle Foster adding a third late on.
Bottom-placed Latics, now six points from safety, had to play with 10 men for 62 minutes after Omar Rekik’s sending off for two yellow cards.
Millwall moved into the play-off positions after Andreas Voglsammer’s 11th-minute penalty secured a 1-0 triumph at Reading.
Matty Godden cancelled out Oscar Estupinan’s 13th goal of the campaign to secure play-off chasing Coventry a 1-1 draw against Hull.
Like Wigan, Huddersfield and Blackpool remain six points from safety after defeats.
John Swift converted from the penalty spot after Conor Townsend was fouled in the box to give top-six hopefuls West Brom a 1-0 win over Huddersfield.
Second-half goals from Andreas Weimann and Alex Scott condemned Blackpool to a 2-0 defeat at Bristol City.
QPR ended a 13-match winless run to spoil Chris Wilder’s first game in charge of Watford, with Tim Iroegbunam striking in the 15th minute to secure a 1-0 victory.
