West Bromwich Albion will spend Christmas on top of the Championship after a hectic weekend full of movement throughout the table.
A tight encounter saw Henrik Dalsgaard initially put Brentford ahead from a corner, only for Darnell Furlong to restore parity just minutes later from a Baggies corner.
That point was enough to ensure West Brom would be top at Christmas after goals from Aleksandar Mitrovic and Joshua Onomah sent Fulham fourth, despite Patrick Bamford’s brief equaliser for second-placed Leeds.
Sheffield Wednesday climbed to third through Barry Bannan’s late penalty, which came about from a Tommy Rowe shove on Atdhe Nuhiu to concede the winning spot-kick.
Preston meanwhile were held to a goalless draw at Cardiff to send them down to fifth but a point ahead of sixth-placed Brentford.
Embed from Getty ImagesDown in the relegation zone, Stoke slipped to rock-bottom after seeing Sam Clucas’ opener cancelled out by Ashley Fletcher’s header before Lewis Wing’s screamer saw Middlesbrough complete a comeback win.
Wigan sit just above the Potters after holding Blackburn to a goalless draw at Ewood Park.
Barnsley ended a 11 week run propping up the table after Patrick Schmidt struck an injury-time winner to beat Millwall, who had cancelled out Conor Chaplin’s opener through Aiden O’Brien’s header.
Luton therefore continue to dangle just above the drop after losing to Swansea through Andre Ayew’s late headed winner.
Elsewhere, Naby Sarr’s injury-time strike earned Charlton a hard fought point at QPR, who had twice led through Geoff Cameron and Marc Pugh despite Lyle Taylor briefly reducing the Addicks’ deficit.
Reading battered Derby who were reduced to ten men after four minutes when Scott Malone was dismissed for a silly challenge on Yakou Meite. Charlie Adams dispatched the penalty before second-half strikes from Lucas Joao and Meite sealed a comfortable win.
Kamil Grosicki created Tom Eaves’ headed opener before scoring himself as Hull thrashed Birmingham, with Keane Lewis-Potter rounding off the win when he slotted in Eric Lichaj’s through ball in the closing minutes.
Finally, goals from Christopher Schindler and Steve Mounie were enough to see Huddersfield defeat Nottingham Forest, despite Joe Worrall’s late pullback for the visitors.