Republic of Ireland midfielder Finn Azaz scored for the third game in succession as Southampton smashed Leicester City 3-0 at St Mary's.
Saints took the lead in the 18th minute, albeit fortunately as replays suggested Taylor Harwood-Bellis was offside before he met Galway man Ryan Manning's pinpoint free-kick.
Jordan James almost hit back immediately but Gavin Bazunu pulled off a stunning save to push away the header before Saints doubled their lead.
Swift counters have become a trademark of Eckert’s reign and they scored from another when the ball moved from Manning to Adam Armstrong to Leo Scienza to Azaz in the blink of an eye.
The Irishman settled and beat Asmir Begovic at his near post to score for the fourth time in three club games.
Another perfect set-piece delivery from Manning teed up the third for Harwood-Bellis.
Dara O'Shea led Ipswich Town to a 2-0 away victory at Hull City as Kieran McKenna's side climbed to fourth, taking their unbeaten run in the league to six games.
Marcelino Nunez headed the visitors into the lead with 20 minutes remaining, with Chuba Akpom doubling the lead moments later from close range after O'Shea's goalward header was parried away.
Late goals from Liam Kitching and Ellis Simms helped Coventry extend their advantage at the top of the table with a 4-2 win over Middlesbrough.
The Sky Blues landed two early blows in the opening 15 minutes, going ahead through Simms' stunning top-corner strike and Kitching's header.
Boro responded through Morgan Whittaker before the break and levelled minutes after the restart with a Bobby Thomas own goal.
With the game seemingly destined for a draw, Kitching and Simms both struck within one minute of each other in the final five minutes of normal time to send Coventry 10 points clear of the Teessiders, who drop to third in the table.
Derby ruined Vitor Matos' first game in charge of Swansea with a 2-1 away victory.
Joe Ward and Lars-Jorgen Salvesen (above) struck either side of the interval as Derby climbed into seventh place in the Championship.
There was late anxiety for the visitors after Ethan Galbraith’s sweet finish, but it was a deserved sixth win in seven games for the in-form Rams.
Matos had only taken two training sessions after leaving Portuguese second-tier outfit Maritimo on Monday to succeed the sacked manager Alan Sheehan.
Sorba Thomas netted a bizarre brace for Stoke as the Potters moved back into the automatic promotion places with a 3-0 win over Charlton.
Thomas' pair of first-half goals from what appeared to be crosses sandwiched Million Manhoef’s fifth goal of the season as Mark Robins’ side cruised to a first victory in three.
Norwich finally brought their dismal run of home defeats to an end at the ninth time of asking – but they were still left deflated as a goal five minutes into stoppage time saw them held to a 1-1 draw by Oxford.
Having lost their opening seven Championship fixtures at Carrow Road, together with another reverse in the Carabao Cup, the Canaries looked to be heading towards a much-needed win in Phillippe Clement's second game in charge.
They led going into added time courtesy of Jovon Makama’s well-taken first-half effort only to let a couple of points slip through their grasp when Oxford substitute Filip Krastev netted a dramatic equaliser.
Daniel Jebbison scored against his former club as Preston shared a 1-1 draw with Watford at Vicarage Road.
Mamadou Doumbia cancelled out his opener shortly before half-time to continue Watford's trend of coming back from behind this season.
