A goal in each half by Robbie Blake, on his 30th birthday and Rob Hulse ensured Leeds United took full advantage of home slip ups by Sheffield United and Watford to enhance their own automatic promotion prospects in a notable 2-1 away triumph at play-off protagonists, Crystal Palace, who could only muster a late Jobi McAnuff strike in reply. 
Watford meanwhile failed to captialse on the Blades’ goalless draw against bottom placed Crewe Alexandra at a snow bound Bramall Lane on Friday evening, and in the end were grateful for a stoppage time goal that helped them to obtain a point in their clash with lowly Derby County at Vicarage Road.
The Golden Boys had the better of the opening exchanges and Ashley Young should have put the hosts ahead, but against the run of play on loan Charlton Athletic striker, Kevin Lisbie did fire the Rams in front.
A fabulous Marlon King shot restored home equality before half time, the striker’s 18th goal of a productive campaign, and the former Nottingham Forest man nearly added to his goal tally early in the second period, only to see the ball ricochet off the base of an upright with Derby County goalie, Lee Camp beaten.
Watford desperately sought a winner, but 17-year-old Giles Barnes exploited hesitancy in the Golden Boys’ backline during a rare Derby County foray forward to edge the Derbyshire club ahead for a second time, with his first senior goal for the club.
Aidy Boothroyd’s men were not finished however, and managed to haul themselves level following a fantastic low shot by substitute, Al Bangura deep into the six minutes added on time by referee Mr. Leake for Derby County’s persistent time wasting during the second stanza.
Bobby Convey, Ibrahima Sonko and Dave Kitson all scored for Reading as the runaway leaders continued their relentless march towards the title in a routine success at free falling Burnley. The Royals’ victory, their eleventh on their travels this season, was marred by a serious looking injury to prolific front man Leroy Lita, who broke an ankle in the icy conditions at Turf Moor and is now set to miss the rest of the season.
The game of the day took place at Leicester City’s Walkers Stadium where Rob Kelly’s men ran out victors by the odd goal in five in a thriller that completed a miserable return for former Foxes’ manager, Peter Taylor and his Hull City.
Iaine Hume put the hosts ahead on the half hour but Stuart Elliot soon equalised for the visitors.
Joey Gudjonsson then took centre stage, firing an unstoppable shot past goalkeeper, Boaz Myhill from just inside his own half with a strike to rival Chris Eagles’ stunning effort for the Golden Boys at Brighton & Hove Albion a fortnight ago as a contender for goal of the season.
Stuart Green brought the Tigers back into the contest once more, only for Gudjonsson to bag his second of the afternoon on 84 minutes to ensure Leicester City’s continued recent improvement was maintained.
Battling Millwall recorded a first win in nine Championship matches to ease their relegation worries at the expense of Luton Town, whose disappointing away form has seen them fall out of play-off contention since the turn of the year.
The in-form Ben May bagged this third goal in as many games to put the Lions ahead, and although Chris Coyne leveled for the Hatters soon after the break, a 90th minute strike by Marvin Williams decided the contest and sent the Old Kent Road faithful home happy. 
The South Londoners are now just two points behind Paul Sturrock’s struggling Sheffield Wednesday, who lost for the fourth match in a row, this time to a solitary first half Cameron Jerome effort for Cardiff City in the Welsh Capital.
The win lifted Dave Jones’ team level on points with Preston North End, whose home game with Ipswich fell victim to the wintry weather affecting the North of England, in the race for the last play-off position.
Brighton & Hove Albion remain second from bottom and they failed to find the net for the fifth time in seven matches after returning to the South Coast on the wrong end of a 1-0 score line at Plymouth Argyle. The Pilgrims, who earlier in the campaign were themselves looking anxiously over their shoulders are now comfortably sitting in mid table and were indebted to Lillian Nallis for the game’s only goal.
Norwich City manager, Nigel Worthington had to endure chants of ‘Worthy out’ from home supporters prior to their match with Stoke City at Carrow Road, so the ex-Northern Ireland international must have been relieved to see loan signing, Jonaton Johnasson pop up in the last minute to secure three much needed points for the under achieving Canaries, this after Paul Gallagher had cancelled out Leon Mackenzie’s opener for the Norfolk men.
Wolverhampton Wanderers are another big club in danger of missing out on the end of season play-offs and their cause was not helped by an outstanding performance by former Molineux stopper, Paul Jones in the goalless draw with Gary Waddock’s improving Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road.
The one remaining match also ended in stalemate at St Mary’s in the fixture between mid table outfits, Southampton and Coventry City.
Most of the excitement came inside the last ten minutes. Grzegorg Rasiak put Southampton ahead in the 81st minute before Micky Adams’ combative side grabbed a point thanks to a Don Hutchinson leveler from the penalty spot two minutes from time, this after Dele Adebola had been brought down.