West Brom went above Newcastle to the top of the Coca-Cola Championship after coming from a goal down to beat Reading 3-1.

The Baggies trailed early on to Matt Mills' header, but Jerome Thomas ensured the two sides went into the interval on level terms.

The hosts then went ahead when Thomas got his second goal of the afternoon as he slid the ball under Adam Federici.

West Brom rounded off the scoring when Youssouf Mulumbu sent in a first-time volley from the edge of the area.

Newcastle blew their chance to go clear once again as they slipped to a 1-0 defeat in the late game at Nottingham Forest.

Dexter Blackstock just beat the Newcastle offside trap in the final minute of the first half and scuffed a shot into the corner of the net for the only goal of the evening.

Fellow high-flyers Middlesbrough went down 1-0 at home to Watford, with Tom Cleverley coolly slotting home in the first half.

The hosts thought they had equalised at the start of the second half when Sean St Ledger headed home from close range.

But the home side's joy was cut short as St Ledger - on loan from Preston - was adjudged to have pushed a Watford defender.

Tony McMahon hit the post for Boro while Leroy Lita, Adam Johnson and Jeremie Aliadiere all had efforts but the Hornets held on as Boro lost their third consecutive home game.

As a result, Cardiff's 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace was sufficient to lift them into third on goal difference.

Cardiff suffered an early setback as Mark Hudson scored an own goal against his former club.

The Bluebirds drew level before the break, Peter Whittingham grabbing his fifth goal in four games.

Blackpool moved into fifth with a 2-0 win over Plymouth.

The hosts went ahead when on-loan defender Marcel Seip grabbed the only goal of the first half against his parent club.

David Vaughan doubled the lead when he hit a shot into the top right of the goal from Ben Burgess.

Leicester stayed seventh after a 0-0 draw with Derby while Bristol City missed the chance to climb into the top six after a 1-1 draw with Peterborough.

The Robins were on the brink of victory after Cole Skuse scored a fine solo goal to give the hosts a 1-0 lead.

The Posh refused to lie down however with Shaun Batt and Danny Rose coming close before George Boyd headed home in the 90th minute from Rose's cross.

It was also Boyd's 124th consecutive appearance, equalling the club record.

QPR had an impressive 4-0 home win over Preston although the Lilywhites managed to stay in the play-off places.

Rangers took the lead when Adel Taarabt beat three men before curling a stunning shot into the top corner.

The hosts then doubled their lead when Akos Buzsaky successfully converted a penalty after Neil Mellor had fouled Taarabt.

On-loan Jay Simpson added a third when he drilled home a Buzsaky pass before Wayne Routledge scored from 25 yards.

Grant McCann scored twice as Scunthorpe beat a disappointing Sheffield United 3-1 to earn their first league win in five games.

McCann's double - his first an imperious volley - and a Paul Hayes strike sealed the win for Nigel Adkins' men.

The Blades had drawn level just after the break when Ched Evans fired in a 20-yard free-kick as they dropped to 10th.

Sheffield Wednesday were in control against Coventry at Hillsborough. The Owls won 2-0 thanks to a Darren Purse header and Leon Clarke's penalty.

Barnsley claimed their third consecutive win as an Adam Hammill shot was enough to claim a 1-0 win at Doncaster.

Ipswich are still searching for their first win after a 1-1 draw with Swansea at Portman Road.

Craig Beattie fired the visitors ahead in the seventh minute with a fine drilled finish across debutant goalkeeper Asmir Begovic.

But Pablo Counago equalised eight minutes later following good work from Jaime Peters.