The Championship's top three all won on matchday 28 as a full 12-game fixture list returned following the fourth round of the FA Cup.
Bournemouth continue to lead the way after their 2-0 victory over 10-man Watford on Friday night, but Derby County are level on points with them and Middlesbrough are also in close pursuit.
Other top-six sides Ipswich Town, Brentford and Watford all dropped points, but the playoff-chasing duo of Wolverhampton Wanderers and Norwich City both also failed to win.
At the other end of the table, rock-bottom Blackpool moved to within nine points of Brighton & Hove Albion in 21st with a 1-0 win over the Seagulls.
Here, Sports Mole chooses its best XI from the weekend's action, in a traditional 4-4-2 formation, as well as highlighting the biggest numpty and best goal.
Adam Federici (Reading)
The Royals won just their second league game under Steve Clarke and they had Federici to thank for several key stops to deny Sheffield Wednesday.
Stephen Kelly (Reading)
As well as helping Federici keep a clean sheet, Kelly set up the opening goal at the Madejski Stadium with an inch-perfect cross.
Jos Hooiveld (Millwall)
Millwall produced one of the surprise results of the weekend with a late win at Nottingham Forest, which has ultimately resulted in Stuart Pearce's sacking at the City Ground. Southampton loanee Hooiveld, on just his second Lions appearance, was rock-solid at the back.
Ben Gibson (Middlesbrough)
Boro kept pace with Bournemouth and Derby thanks to a slim 1-0 win over fellow promotion hopefuls Brentford. The Bees dominated for large parts of the game, but Gibson was the standout Boro defender as the best defence in the league kept their seventh clean sheet in eight games.
Tim Ream (Bolton Wanderers)
Bolton were denied all three points against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the dying stages, but Ream impressed down the left and set up Bolton's first.
Ben Marshall (Blackburn Rovers)
Blackburn closed to within eight points of the playoffs with a 2-1 triumph over Fulham. Marshall drilled home the first and was a pest down the wing all game long.
Kari Arnason (Rotherham United)
Arnason put in a bullish defensive display as the Millers frustrated Charlton Athletic and rescued a point at The Valley.
Jamie O'Hara (Blackpool)
A long-range free kick from O'Hara earned Blackpool their second win in four games. The Tangerines still have an outside chance of escaping the drop.
Jordan Cousins (Charlton Athletic)
Cousins was the standout Charlton player against Rotherham and opened the scoring in South London with a cool finish inside the box.
Zach Clough (Bolton Wanderers)
The only man with more than one goal this weekend, Clough had a dream league debut for the Trotters as his quickfire double turned the match against Wolves on its head. After curling home a 20-yard free kick, the teenager showed great composure in the box to put the hosts in front.
Chris Martin (Derby County)
Martin now has 16 league goals this season after his powerful back-post header put Derby two in front at Cardiff City. The Scot also won a penalty, but his drilled effort was brilliantly saved.
Numpty of the Week
Harlee Dean: After appearing in our last Team of the Week, Brentford centre-back Dean appears down here after his careless header back to goal was intercepted by Patrick Bamford and the Boro man won a penalty which proved to be the difference on Saturday lunchtime at Griffin Park.
Goal of the Week
James Henry (Wolverhampton Wanderers) vs. Bolton Wanderers: The pick of matchday 28's goals was the latest of the lot as Henry arrowed home a 30-yard piledriver to earn Wolves a last-gasp draw at the Macron Stadium.
