Sheffield Wednesday scored for the first time since early November to hold runaway Championship leaders Newcastle to a 2-2 draw at Hillsborough on Saturday.
The Magpies fell behind in the 14th minute to Luke Varney's header, Wednesday's first goal since November 7. A Kevin Nolan header and a Shola Ameobi finish in the space of three minutes had United in front by midway through the first half, but James O'Connor snatched a point for the Owls in the 59th minute when he fired home from six yards.
Cardiff missed the chance to make up ground on the leaders as they conceded a late winner to lose 1-0 at home to Plymouth, who ended a run of five straight defeats without a goal. Gary Sawyer's goal decided the game in the 84th minute.
Nottingham Forest had to settle for a goalless draw at Watford, their ninth draw on the road this term.
Crystal Palace came from behind to beat 10-man Ipswich 3-1 at Selhurst Park.
Jaime Peters put Town ahead in the 19th minute, but Jose Fonte levelled in the 38th minute and Jonathan Stead was given a straight red card a minute later for a late, but not malicious, challenge on Freddie Sears. Neil Danns put the Eagles ahead in the 58th minute and Victor Moses sealed the points in added time.
QPR were 2-1 winners over Bristol City thanks to goals from Jay Simpson (31) and Mikele Leigertwood (40), with Nicky Maynard (57) replying for City.
Preston's match against Barnsley at Deepdale was called off because areas around the ground were deemed unsafe, although the pitch did pass an inspection.
Gordon Strachan finally tasted his first home win in charge of Middlesbrough as they brushed aside 10-man Scunthorpe 3-0.
The visitors were always up against it from the moment Cliff Byrne was sent off for bringing down Jeremie Aliadiere in the area. Adam Johnson, who missed a penalty in Strachan's first game as boss, made no mistake this time to give Boro an 11th-minute lead.
Rhys Williams added a second in the 45th minute and Aliadiere a third a minute after the break. The match ended on a sour note for Boro, though, as Leroy Lita was shown a straight red card for foul and abusive language in the 89th minute.
West Brom closed the gap on Newcastle as Luke Moore's 61st-minute goal set them on their way to a 2-0 home win over Peterborough, who dropped to the foot of the standings. Ryan Bennett's own goal in the 67th minute sealed Posh's fate.
Swansea were held to a 1-1 draw at Reading, Gylfi Sigurdsson's free-kick on the stroke of half-time cancelling out Darren Pratley's opener for the Swans.
Jake Buxton's 38th-minute own goal and a Brett Ormerod strike (79) earned play-off hopefuls Blackpool a 2-0 win at Derby, who ended the match with 10 men following Dean Moxey's 85th-minute red card.
Clinton Morrison converted an 85th-minute penalty to give Coventry - for whom Leon Best also missed a first-half spot-kick - a 1-0 win at home to Doncaster.
Leicester regained their place in the Championship play-off places as Sheffield United's Boxing Day blues continued at the Walkers Stadium.
City had slipped out of the top six by virtue of Blackpool's win at Derby earlier in the day but Michael Morrison's header and a Matty Fryatt penalty helped lift them up to fourth in the table.
Half-time substitute Henri Camara immediately got United back into the game with his first touch but Kevin Blackwell's side could not find an equaliser despite making it an uncomfortable second half for the Foxes.
