Even our old mate Michael Chopra gave us a helping hand ... by getting head-butted!
Peter Whittingham sealed an impressive away win at The Hawthorns as Cardiff sent out a message that West Brom are not as good as their league position suggests.
Whittingham kept his cool to slot home a penalty rebound after his initial spot-kick had been saved by West Brom's substitute goalkeeper Dean Kiely to seal a 2-0 victory.
Albion's number one keeper Scott Carson had been sent off moments earlier for inexplicably head-butting Cardiff striker Michael Chopra, leading to the penalty decision.
Chris Burke had fired the visitors ahead in the 18th minute and they were full value for a win which takes them within five points of the second-placed Baggies, with leaders Newcastle a further four points clear.
Middlesbrough's buoyant mood after their weekend hammering of QPR was brought to an abrupt end by Blackpool, who moved up to sixth after a superb 3-0 win on Teesside.
Gary Taylor-Fletcher struck an early double in the 21st and 26th minutes to put the visitors well in control and Charlie Adam added a third seven minutes from time to complete Gordon Strachan's woes.
Nottingham Forest moved up to fourth place after hanging on for a gritty goalless draw at Sheffield United, with visiting goalkeeper Lee Camp the man mostly responsible for saving his side a point.
Swansea are fifth after Lee Trundle grabbed the only goal of the game against Plymouth at the New Vetch.
Trundle fired home in the 52nd minute to sink the visitors, who had Shane Lowry sent off for two bookable offences.
Leicester's early-season promise continued to fade as they slumped to a 3-1 home defeat against improving Bristol City.
Ivan Sproule and Cole Skuss gave the visitors the half-time advantage and Evander Sno added a third on 76. After having Martyn Waghorn sent off on 80 for violent conduct, Matt Fryatt struck a last-minute consolation.
Cash-strapped Crystal Palace put their off-field problems behind them to record a lively 4-2 win at struggling Reading, with Victor Moses leading the way with a brace.
Nathaniel Clyne put Palace ahead early and after Alex Pearce's equaliser the visitors wrested control in first half stoppage time when first Darren Ambrose then Moses found the net.
Gylfi Sigurdsson clawed back the deficit on 80 minutes with a well-taken penalty but Moses hit his second in the 88th minute to ensure Palace a valuable victory.
At the bottom, there was little joy for Roy Keane's Ipswich, who had to settle for a goalless home draw despite dominating against rock-bottom Peterborough at Portman Road.
Billy Sharp's 78th-minute strike enabled Doncaster to edge the South Yorkshire derby against Sheffield Wednesday, while Preston and Derby were locked together in a goalless draw at Deepdale.