Leicester claimed a resounding 5-1 Coca-Cola Championship victory over Scunthorpe to remain in the play-off places.
Michael Morrison headed the Foxes in front early on and Paul Gallagher added a second in the 16th minute from the edge of the area. Gallagher then curled home a delightful free-kick to put Nigel Pearson's side in total control before Martyn Waghorn volleyed a fourth 11 minutes before the interval.
Paul Hayes pulled one back before Gallagher completed his hat-trick with a header.
Sheffield United kept up the heat on the play-off places with a 2-0 win over Bristol City at Bramall Lane.
After a goalless first half the Blades went ahead from a stunning volley by Henri Camara in the 49th minute. Darius Henderson doubled the home side's lead when Jamie Ward whipped in a cross and the striker flicked a header past Dean Gerken in the 62nd minute.
Barry Robson fired home his first goal for Middlesbrough, following excellent work down the left from Jonathan Franks, to hand Gordon Strachan's side a 1-0 victory at home to bottom club Peterborough.
Struggling QPR suffered further misery as they went down 1-0 at Coventry, who scored through Gary Deegan's deflected effort.
Plymouth came from a goal down to claim a 3-1 victory at Barnsley.
Barnsley took the lead through Hugo Colace's 45th-minute strike but the Pilgrims hit back after the break and Carl Fletcher levelled with a volley into the top left of the goal.
Jamie Mackie then turned the match on its head with a header for Paul Mariner's side and victory was sealed when Rory Fallon lobbed the keeper from 35 yards.
Copyright (c) PA Sport 2009, All Rights Reserved.
