Birmingham City have climbed out of the Championship relegation zone thanks to a 3-1 win over fellow strugglers Sunderland on Tuesday night.
The Black Cats were put to the sword at St Andrew's as goals from David Davis, Jeremie Boga and Sam Gallagher fired the hosts into a three-goal lead by the hour mark.
Bryan Oviedo netted a late consolation for Chris Coleman's charges, who remain one point from safety in the bottom three of the table.
In the evening's other relegation six-pointer, Reading emerged 3-1 winners against rock-bottom Burton Albion at the Pirelli Stadium.
Jon Dadi Bodvarsson scored a brace either side of Chris Gunter's curling strike on 57 minutes to give the Royals their first win in nine, while Lucas Akins's 51st-minute penalty proved in vain.
Aston Villa edged to just one point behind second-placed Derby County in third with a 1-0 win at Sheffield United, achieved thanks to Robert Snodgrass's last-minute winner.
Preston North End, meanwhile, are now within three points of the playoffs thanks to a 3-0 thrashing of Nottingham Forest at the City Ground.
The Reds fell behind to goals from Billy Bodin and Tom Barkhuizen before Daniel Johnson fired in from the penalty spot seven minutes from time for a comprehensive North End win.
The remaining games of the night all ended goalless, with Hull City and Leeds United playing out a stalemate, as did Middlesbrough and Sheffield Wednesday, as well as Millwall and Derby County.
Results in full: Birmingham 3-1 Sunderland, Burton 1-3 Reading, Hull 0-0 Leeds, Middlesbrough 0-0 Sheffield Wednesday, Millwall 0-0 Derby, Nottingham Forest 0-3 Preston, Sheffield United 0-1 Aston Villa
Giuseppe Labellarte
