Cardiff, Norwich and Swansea all scored late goals to boost their respective bids for automatic promotion from the npower Championship.
The top two, QPR and Nottingham Forest, meet at Loftus Road on Sunday but the chasing pack left it late to take advantage.
Third-placed Cardiff had to wait 85 minutes to break the deadlock at home to lowly Scunthorpe, Seyi Olofinjana heading the only goal from Jason Koumas' cross.
Norwich, who kicked off in fourth, led Reading when Arsenal loanee Henri Lansbury tucked in a cross from Wes Hoolahan, but 10 minutes later a mistake from Elliott Ward allowed Jimmy Kebe to set up Shane Long for the equaliser.
Jem Karacan was sent off for the Royals after his wild tackle on David Fox sparked a mass melee and Norwich, as so often this season, grabbed a late winner as Grant Holt turned in Andrew Crofts' cross in the fourth minute of stoppage time.
Fifth-placed Swansea came from 3-1 down to edge out Middlesbrough 4-3. Winger Nathan Dyer cancelled out Marvin Emnes' opener for the hosts but a header from Jonathan Grounds put Boro back into the lead.
Leroy Lita extended the margin but Scott Sinclair's penalty brought Swansea back within one goal. Ashley Williams ended a penalty-box scramble by lashing home an equaliser and Craig Beattie's injury-time half-volley earned Swansea a dramatic three points.
Leeds are in the hunt for back-to-back promotions and they beat Bristol City 2-0 as Robert Snodgrass scored his seventh goal of the season and then set up a goal for Max Gradel.
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