Southampton remain ahead of the pack.
The top of the table clash between the league leaders and Middlesbrough ended in a convincing win for the Saints, as the south coast side romped to a 3-0 victory. A double from Guillherme and a late marker from David Connolly paced S'oton as they remained three points clear at the top.
For Boro, a season which was developing nicely, has unravelled a little, following a first defeat to Forest a couple of rounds ago. They were second best for much of the contest and struggled to create much of any note throughout. With their second loss in their last two games, Boro drop to fourth with 24 points, a full six behind Southampton.
West Ham continued their assault on the automatic promotion places with their second win in a row and third in five games with a thrilling 3-2 win over leaderless Leicester City. While the departure of much storied Sven Goran Eriksson from City can be viewed as both a blessing and a curse, the fact remains that City are and have been too inconsistent this season. Despite a roster of decent talent, and one that should challenge for the promotion playoff places, the Foxes remain mired in midtable with 19 points from 14 games - with four draws amidst an equal number of wins and losses. A .500 team if there ever was one.
At the Boleyn Ground on Saturday, they fought back after West Ham had put them to the sword with goals midway through the first half from Sam Baldock and Julien Faubert. Captain Andy King pulled one back shortly before the hour mark before Baldock scored his second to put West Ham out of sight. However City's belief never wavered and they scored another goal a few minutes later with King netting his second. The last 15 minutes were played out in furious fashion as Leciester probed for a thrilling equalizer but United held firm. With the win the Hammers are now up to second, on 27 points, three behind the league leaders.
Crystal Palace continued their impressive recent form despite a goalless draw at home to lower mid-table Reading. Unbeaten now in five, Palace improve to third on goal difference but would have wanted to put away the Royals to keep pace with West Ham who are one spot above. With 24 points, the Eagles are tied on points with the three remaining teams who round out the top six, and look the most consistent of the lot. Having said that, the English Championship is a notoriously unpredictable league and Palace need only lose one game to drop back down the table. On present form, that does look unlikely but Palace must guard against both complacency and a dip in form.
Derby, who are fifth on goal difference, despite also sitting on 24 points, scored a good 3-1 win over Portsmouth. Craig Bryson, Charlie Maguire and Jamie Ward put the Rams far out in front before Jason Pearce notched a late consolation for visiting Pompey. Hull, in sixth, brought a resurgent Nottingham Forest back down to Earth with a precious 1-0 away win. Aaron Maclean scored the winner to put the brakes on Forest's renaissance at two games. Forest remain 20th with a third loss in five games while Hull win for the third time in five matches.
In other games, Leeds and Cardiff drew 1-1 at Elland Road on Sunday, as goals from Robert Snodgrass and Joe Mason cancelled each other out. Leeds move up to seventh while Cardiff are ninth. Splitting them in the table are Birmingham City, who, with a number of games in hand, saw their four game winning streak snapped with a goalless draw to Brighton at home. While City are eighth, former leaders Albion have dropped to tenth.
Millwall made it two in two for the East End of London with a crushing 4-1 win over Ipswich at the New Den. Darius Henderson and Luke Feeney scored, in between a double from former Gunner Jay Simpson, for the home side. Jimmy Bullard also scored to briefly make it 2-1. Elsewhere Watford and Burnley both scored three goals to see off opponents at home, with the Hornets beating Peterborough, 3-2 while the Clarets beat Blackpool 3-1. Marvin Sordell scored a double at Vicarage Road while Charlie Austin and Ross Wallace netted again for Burnley,
Rock bottom Bristol City won 2-1 away over Barnsley to pick up a precious three point haul on the road and maintain pressure on second from last Doncaster. Rovers themselves could only manage a 1-1 draw with Coventry at home. While Coventry drops into the bottom three and are now winless in four, they remain three points ahead of both Bristol City and Doncaster who have nine points each.
Rickie Lambert and Ross McCormack, both held scoreless this round, continue to lead the scoring charts with nine goals apiece.
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