Republic of Ireland midfielder Finn Azaz fired home the opening goal as Middlesbrough beat managerless Hull City 3-1 in one of the Championship's early kick-offs on Saturday afternoon.
Andy Dawson was in interim charge of the Tigers after Tim Walter's midweek dismissal but couldn’t stop the rot, with City now winless in their last 10 league games.
Azaz continued his superb run of form with a fifth goal in three games to set Boro on their way, before Tommy Conway doubled the home side’s lead just before half-time.
Hull substitute Mason Burstow gave the Tigers hope when he halved the deficit 19 minutes from time, but Conway secured the points with his second and Boro’s third goal eight minutes later.
Carrick’s side have now won four of their last five games and are the Championship’s top scorers.
Leeds blew the chance to return to the top of the Sky Bet Championship as they crashed to their third defeat of the season at Ewood Park.
Todd Cantwell's 22nd-minute penalty proved enough seal Blackburn’s third win in a row as a determined defensive effort frustrated Daniel Farke’s visitors.
Largie Ramazani had a second-half strike ruled out for offside in the build-up, and Rovers keeper Ainsley Pears saved brilliantly to deny Dan James at close range.
Burnley moved above Farke’s men into second place as the Clarets beat Stoke 2-0 at the Bet365 Stadium to make it four wins in a row.
Jay Rodriguez opened the scoring from close range in the 52nd minute and a 78th-minute penalty from Josh Brownhill made sure of the points for Scott Parker’s revitalised side.
A late penalty from substitute Victor Torp salvaged a point for Frank Lampard in his first game since taking over at Coventry.
Lampard's men made a nightmare start as Yakou Meite headed a fourth-minute opener for visitors Cardiff, who like their opponents were looking to end a run of four games without a win.
Ephron Mason-Clark hit a quick equaliser for the hosts, but Alex Robertson’s effort just after the break looked set to seal the three points for the Welshman until Torp converted from the spot two minutes from time.
Late goals from Emiliano Marcondes and Borja Sainz saw Norwich build on their midweek thrashing of Plymouth with a 4-2 win over Luton at Carrow Road.
A brace from Ante Crnac cancelled out a 20th-minute opener from Hatters striker Elijah Adebayo, and after Jacob Brown equalised early in the second half, Marcondes and Sainz struck to seal the points in the last 10 minutes.
West Brom were forced to settle for their 10th draw of the season after Karlan Grant's early effort was cancelled out by an Emil Riis effort for Preston at Deepdale.
Bottom club Portsmouth endured a frustrating return to action as they surrendered a 2-0 lead to draw 2-2 with Swansea in south Wales.
Pompey, whose last two games were postponed, started in style with goals from Matt Ritchie and Josh Murphy, before a Connor Ogilvie own goal halved the deficit on the stroke of half-time.
Swansea pressed in the second half and shortly after Myles Peart-Harris hit the bar, Liam Cullen fired a 53rd minute equaliser from close range.
Ireland-eligible Tyler Goodrham scored a brilliant 86th-minute equaliser to secure a 1-1 draw for Oxford United at home to Millwall.
The Lions had looked comfortable as they led through Japhet Tanganga's 45th-minute header and the home side had created very little in an uninspiring encounter.
But from Cameron Brannagan’s square pass outside the box, and with the clock ticking down, Goodrham hit a stunning left-footed drive into the top right corner to earn struggling Oxford a precious point.
Problems continue to mount for Wayne Rooney at Plymouth, an Anis Mehmeti double and further goals from Scott Twine and Ireland under-21 international Sinclair Armstrong swept Bristol City to a 4-0 win at Ashton Gate.
Ireland full-back Festy Ebosele was a second-half sub as Watford were left frustrated by a 0-0 draw against relegation-threatened QPR.
