Wolves continue to set the pace with an impressive 3-1 win at Sheffield United, but Birmingham kept the pressure on with a 2-1 win over Ipswich. New Watford boss Brendan Rodgers, meanwhile, watched on as the team earned a 1-1 draw at Bristol City.
Sheffield United 1 Wolves 3
Striker Chris Iwelumo helped himself to two more goals to maintain Wolves' stunning start to the season.
The giant frontman, a summer signing from Charlton, took just three minutes to break the deadlock when he tapped in Michael Kightly’s cross from close range.
Iwelumo made it 15 for the season on 59 after good work from Karl Henry and the points were in the bag when Sylvan Ebanks-Blake finished off another Kightly cross.
Sheffield United substitute Matthew Spring set-up a nervy finish when he fired past Carl Ikeme 16 minutes from time but Wolves were worthy winners.
Birmingham 2 Ipswich 1
Early goals from Liam Ridgewell and Kevin Phillips helped Birmingham stay on the tail of leaders Wolves.
Ridgewell opened the scoring in the ninth minute when he hammered past Richard Wright from close range.
Phillips gave The Blues a cushion five minutes later when he headed in Sebastian Larsson’s inch-perfect cross.
James McFadden went close to a third after the break before Alex Bruce got one back eight minutes from time but Alex McLeish’s men held-on.
Cardiff 2 Reading 2
Ten-man Reading claimed a crucial point thanks to Brynjar Gunnarsson’s second-half volley.
On-loan Aston Villa winger Wayne Routledge gave Cardiff the lead in the tenth minute with a neat finish on his debut but Kevin Doyle levelled four minutes later from close-range.
The Royals were down to ten men on the half hour when Andre Bikey clattered into Michael Chopra.
It got worse for the visitors when Ross McCormack fired home from the spot after Marcus Hahnemann bundled over Chopra but Gunnarsson’s 50th minute strike earned them a point.
Bristol City 1 Watford 1
New Watford boss Brendan Rodgers saw Tommy Smith grab The Hornets a well-earned point at Ashton Gate.
Chances were at a premium throughout but Bristol City hit the front in the 71st minute when Nicky Maynard raced into the area before lifting the ball over Scott Loach.
But Watford were level a minute later when Jon Harley crossed for Smith to beat Adriano Basso and end Malky Mackay’s caretaker reign with a positive result.
Blackpool 0 Sheffield Wednesday 2
Second-half goals from Marcus Tudgay and Deon Burton sent Blackpool crashing to a fourth successive defeat.
Seasiders striker Steve Kabba wasted two great chances in the opening stages and Sean McAllister also went close at the other end before Alan Gow struck a post for the hosts.
But the Owls hit the front on the hour when Etienne Esajas robbed Alex Baptiste and crossed for Tudgay to head in at the far post.
Burton then thundered a 30-yarder against the bar before making the game safe five minutes from time from another Esajas cross.
Coventry 1 Swansea 1
Daniel Fox’s stunning 87th minute free-kick earned Coventry a deserved draw against Swansea.
The Swans had the better of the first period and should have had the lead at the break but Angel Rangel somehow fired wide from four yards.
But Roberto Martinez’s men had the lead in the 67th minute when Jordi Gomez curled a 20-yard free-kick past Kieren Westwood.
The visitors looked like taking all of the points back to South Wales until Fox crashed a 25-yarder beyond Dorus de Vries.
Derby 2 Preston 2
Jordan Stewart’s long-range volley rescued Derby a point with all the goals at Pride Park coming in the opening 32 minutes.
Rob Hulse began the scoring in the eighth minute when he hammered a shot past Andy Lonergan but Callum Davidson levelled from the spot on 21 after Emmanuel Villa tripped Ross Wallace.
Neil Mellor gave Preston the lead eight minutes later with a composed finished but Stewart restored parity from distance on 32.
The Rams dominated after the break with Lewin Nyatanga and Hulse going close before Przemyslaw Kazmierczak hit the bar.
Doncaster 0 Nottingham Forest 0
Doncaster drew a blank in front of goal despite dominating the basement battle with Nottingham Forest.
Rovers winger James Coppinger rattled the woodwork and Gareth Taylor also went close in a tight opening period.
Martin Woods also fired over after the break before Forest keeper Lee Camp fumbled a Coppinger shot close to the line but his appeals for a goal were waved away by the officials and the game ended goalless.
Norwich 1 Crystal Palace 2
First-half goals from Craig Beattie and John Oster fired Crystal Palace their second successive win.
Beattie beat the offside trap in the 27th minute to latch onto Patrick McCarthy’s long ball before firing beyond the exposed David Marshall.
And Marshall was left embarrassed by Oster’s sublime chip five minutes before the interval as The Eagles doubled their lead.
Matty Pattison reduced the arrears on the hour when he headed in Lee Croft’s cross but Palace held-on for all of the points.
QPR 2 Charlton 1
Two goals from Dexter Blackstock gave new QPR boss Paulo Sousa a perfect start to life at Loftus Road to keep managerless Charlton in deep trouble.
Blackstock grabbed the lead in the 17th minute when he converted Damiano Tommasi’s cross.
But The Addicks, who had Phil Parkinson in charge after sacking Alan Pardew at the weekend, were level at the break when Therry Racon converted Hameur Bouazza’s cross.
However Blackstock had the final say when he headed in Hogan Ephraim’s cross with ten minutes to go.
Southampton 0 Plymouth 0
Plymouth’s bid to move into the play-off zone suffered a blow as they were held to a bore draw by struggling Southampton.
Saints dominated in the first period and should have had the lead at the break but strikers David McGoldrick and Jordan Robertson wasted their best chances.
Paul Sturrock’s men improved after the break with substitute Craig Noone going close before McGoldrick had a goalbound shot cleared off the line by Chris Barker.