Paul McKenna returned to haunt Preston as in-form Nottingham Forest stretched their unbeaten run to 14 Coca-Cola Championship games with a 3-0 win to move level on points with second-placed West Brom.
McKenna, who spent 12 years at Deepdale before joining Forest for £750,000 in the summer, opened his account for Forest with a crisp finish from 25 yards out.
Striker Dele Adebola scored Forest's second goal in the first half and Lewis McGugan added a third as former Preston boss Billy Davies' side outlined their promotion credentials with an impressive display.
The Reds have now scored 12 goals in their last three home matches and look firmly on course to challenge for automatic promotion.
Swansea moved up to fifth with a 2-0 victory over Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough.
Jamaican midfielder Darren Pratley netted both goals for the visitors as he slotted home Gorka Pintado's pass (5) before converting Nathan Dyer's cross (36) to give the Owls the worst possible start to life after Brian Laws.
Paul Hart's first game in charge of QPR ended in a 1-1 draw with Sheffield United. Mikele Leigertwood's second-minute strike gave the Rs a great start at Loftus Road but Richard Cresswell tapped in an equaliser just six minutes later.
Substitute Simon Church gave Reading a late equaliser before being sent off as Brian McDermott claimed a deserved point from his first game in charge of the Championship strugglers.
A contentious penalty from Paul Hartley looked set to give Bristol City victory but Church popped up in stoppage time to make it 1-1 and then see red for celebrating with the away fans.
Exodus Geohaghon's first league goal secured Mark Cooper's maiden victory as Peterborough manager - 2-1 against Watford at London Road.
Lee Frecklington wasted no time giving Posh the lead with a well-taken volley, but
Watford levelled in the 48th minute through John Eustace's first goal of the season. Geohaghon then headed home to ensure Posh leapfrogged Plymouth at the foot of the table.
Freddy Eastwood extended his rich vein of form as he netted the winner as Coventry claimed a 1-0 victory over the strugglers at Home Park.
The Wales international headed home after good work down the right wing by David Bell (72).
Darren Ambrose missed an early penalty for Crystal Palace as they drew 1-1 at home to Barnsley.
The midfielder blasted over the bar in the third minute after Ryan Shotton had fouled Victor Moses before Daniel Bogdanovic's long-range drive put the Tykes ahead (19). But Moses came to the rescue with a stunning overhead kick from the edge of the box (51).
On-loan striker Billy Sharp continued his fine form for Doncaster as his goal set them on the way to a 2-0 victory at Derby. Sharp was played in by John Oster for the opener (21) before James Coppinger made the points safe in injury time.
The games between Blackpool and West Brom, Cardiff and Leicester and Scunthorpe and Ipswich all fell foul of the weather.