Brighton leapfrogged Newcastle at the top of the Sky Bet Championship with 3-0 win over 10-man QPR at the Amex Stadium.
A fine early goal from Sam Baldock put the Seagulls on their way to a fourth successive win before a Glenn Murray penalty and an Anthony Knockaert strike extended Albion's unbeaten run to 17 games.
Struggling Rangers, reduced to 10 men early in the second half when captain Nedum Onuoha received a straight red card, have now lost their last six matches and failed to score in five of them.
In Tuesday's other game, Darren Bent's second-half penalty helped Derby maintain touch with the play-off places following a 1-0 bwin over Birmingham.
The former Aston Villa and Sunderland striker netted the decisive spot-kick in the 64th minute after Blues defender Michael Morrison was adjudged to have fouled Richard Keogh following a corner.
The win was County's eighth from their last nine league matches as they moved up to seventh and just a point behind Sheffield Wednesday, who occupy the final play-off spot.