Republic of Ireland international Sinclair Armstrong helped himself to a second-half brace and Jason Knight provided an assist as Bristol City routed Portsmouth 5-0 in their Championship meeting at Ashton Gate.
With Boys in Green midfielder and Robins captain Knight skippering the hosts, they set about dismantling Pompey, racing into a two-goal lead by half-time thanks to Adam Randell's stunning 11th minute strike and a second from Anis Mehmeti - Knight setting up the latter goal.
Scott Twine then made it 3-0 before striker Armstrong, who had come on up front in the 56th minute, rolled the ball into an empty net after the visitors had lost possession in their defensive third.
The Dubliner, who had squandered two great chances in the interim, then put the icing on the cake for Bristol City, netting the fifth in the fourth minute of stoppage time with a powerful strike from just inside the Portsmouth box.
Republic of Ireland international Tom Cannon (pictured above) was on the scoresheet as Sheffield United continued their strong run of form at home with a 3-1 victory over Leicester 3-1 at Bramall Lane.
The striker, who won both of his caps in 2024, doubled the Blades' lead in the 52nd minute when he met Andre Brooks’ cross.
Coming on the back of his goal against Stoke City last time out, it means the 22-year-old has two goals against former clubs in his last two games.
Japhet Tanganga and Callum O’Hare were also among the goals for United, with the Foxes claiming a late consolation when Jordan James’ deflected effort from distance found its way past keeper Michael Cooper and into the bottom corner.
In truth Leicester had very little going forward all evening and are now 19 games without a clean sheet in the Championship.
Southampton and Millwall played out a scoreless draw at St Mary's and the Saints were indebted to Ireland number two Gavin Bazunu, who made an excellent save from point-blank range on 77 minutes to prevent Thierno Ballo from breaking the deadlock.
The result means Millwall drop out of the play-off places, while stuttering Southampton, who brought Ireland midfielder Finn Azaz on at half-time, see their winless run extend to five games.
Meanwhile, at the summit, Championship leaders Coventry were held to a 1-1 draw by Charlton.
The Sky Blues had the perfect start to the match with just over two minutes on the clock when Ellis Simms, who scored twice in the reverse fixture between the two clubs at the end of November, produced a clinical finish, converting first time from Milan van Ewijk's cross.
But the Addicks deservedly levelled against Frank Lampard's outfit in the 69th minute through Joe Rankin-Costello.
Ipswich climbed into the automatic promotion places, following a 2-1 victory over struggling Oxford.
Their victory came via first-half goals from leading scorer Jaden Philogene and Chuba Akpom, while Will Lankshear replied for the visitors.
Ipswich moved a point above Middlesbrough after they fell to a 1-0 defeat at Derby.
Boro were punished for failing to take their chances as Bobby Clark took advantage for the Rams with a second-half winner.
The midfielder showed the requisite composure with his finish that Boro craved to earn Derby a first home win since 4 November and condemn the visitors to a third defeat in four matches.
Stoke, who had the versatile but uncapped Ireland defender Bosun Lawal starting in midfield, won at the MKM Stadium for a fifth consecutive season as Hull's fine run of form ended with a 1-0 defeat in a game blighted by a bad shoulder injury to goalscorer Robert Bozenik.
Despite having claimed one victory from six previous games, Mark Robins' side never looked back after Bozenik volleyed home at the far post on 39 minutes.
Bozenik's day did, however, end on a sombre note as he was inconsolably taken off in the second half with a worrying shoulder injury that led to the addition of 17 minutes in stoppage time.
Tom Ince's first league hat-trick in a decade gave Watford an emphatic 3-0 victory over a dismal Birmingham side at Vicarage Road and continued his side's surge towards the automatic promotion places.
Ince should even have added a fourth goal when he fired over an open net inside the six-yard box with 20 minutes remaining.
He still collected a deserved match ball for his first Championship hat-trick for 10 years and 17 days, since he netted a treble for Derby against Bristol City in December 2015.
Jay Fulton scored his first goal for over a year just 60 seconds after coming on as a substitute to give Swansea 1-0 victory and pile more pressure on West Brom manager Ryan Mason.
Fulton - who had not scored since December 2024 - struck a superb shot from 25 yards in the 74th minute for the only goal of the game.
It proved enough to give Swansea their fourth successive home victory, but away-day troubles are piling up for Mason, who included Ireland winger Mikey Johnston in the starting line-up but introduced Jayson Molumby into the fray for the final half-hour.
Milutin Osmajic marked his return to the team with a goal as Preston beat Sheffield Wednesday 3-0 at Deepdale.
The 26-year-old had been missing since 5 November due to a nine-game suspension and a minor hamstring injury but he showed no signs of rustiness with a clinical 61st-minute finish to double Preston's lead.
Ali McCann had put the Lilywhites ahead with a composed opener after 28 minutes and Lewis Dobbin slammed in a late third.
Struggling Norwich claimed a precious 2-1 victory over QPR at Loftus Road.
The Canaries, who began the day second from bottom, moved up a place courtesy of Josh Sargent's close-range header in the first minute of the second half and a deflected Jovon Makama strike in stoppage time.
Amadou Mbengue scored for the hosts in the final moments but they have now suffered back-to-back defeats.
In the early kick-off, Ollie Rathbone marked his first league start of the campaign with a goal-of-the-season contender as Wrexham brushed aside Blackburn 2-0 to rack up their third straight Championship win.
Phil Parkinson's side were without an away win in eight outings and made the trip to Ewood Park without injured duo Kieffer Moore and Josh Windass.
But Sam Smith and Rathbone deputised to devastating effect as Wrexham flew out of the traps and Smith finished clinically in the 11th minute for his second goal of the season.
Rathbone doubled the advantage with a sublime volley, catching the ball perfectly as it dropped over his shoulder to score for the second successive game.
Additional reporting: PA
