West Brom sealed victory through Gianni Zuiverloon with four minutes remaining and moments later the Iron were reduced to 10 men when Cliff Byrne was sent off for a foul on Abdoulaye Meite.

Derby had taken four points from their previous two games and the Rams went ahead at Pride Park five minutes before half-time.

Kris Commons sent a ball in from the right and Rob Hulse pounced to head home from close range for his eighth goal of the season.

Derby doubled the lead after Michael Tonge was brought down in the area by Jonas Gutierrez with Commons converting the resulting penalty.

The hosts made it three when Shaun Barker swept home Hulse’s cross to end the Magpies’ 15-game unbeaten league run.

Nottingham Forest went down to a narrow 1-0 defeat at Coventry – their second loss in three games.

The Sky Blues went ahead midway through the first half when Freddy Eastwood pounced in the six-yard box after Martin Cranie’s shot from the centre of the area was blocked superbly by Lee Camp in the Forest goal.

The game also saw Amy Fearn replace referee Tony Bates in the middle after the official was forced off.

Cardiff had a regulation 2-0 win over bottom side Peterborough who have yet to win away from home.

The Bluebirds took the lead after half an hour when Chris Burke pounced on Peter Whittingham’s cross with Anthony Gerrard doubling the lead from close range.

Crystal Palace’s woes were compounded when former Eagles forward Shefki Kuqi scored from close range in the 14th minute to earn Swansea victory.

Sheffield United are enduring a miserable time and Preston added to their woes with a 2-1 victory at Deepdale.

Matthew James put North End ahead in only the 10th minute with a 25-yard shot and the hosts then earned a spot-kick with 20 minutes left when Danny Welbeck was fouled by Nyron Nosworthy in the box.

Although Jon Parkin’s shot was saved by Ian Bennett, the Preston forward pounced on the rebound to double the lead and although Mark Yeates pulled one back with his first goal for the Blades, it was not enough.

Middlesbrough beat Barnsley 2-1 although they were made to hang on by the Tykes.

Chris Killen put Boro ahead midway through the first half from Gary O’Neil’s corner before O’Neil then doubled the lead for Gordon Strachan’s side.

Barnsley pulled one back through Hugo Colace but Boro survived.

Ipswich had a 2-1 win at QPR.

David Norris’ shot took a deflection into the net for his first goal of the season to put the Tractor Boys ahead which Sunderland loanee Daryl Murphy doubled with a first-time shot.

Jay Simpson halved the deficit but the visitors held on.

Watford had a welcome 2-0 win over Bristol City.

Heidar Helguson swept home a header from Adrian Mariappa’s corner to put the Hornets ahead in the 14th minute and the Robins’ woes got worse 11 minutes from half time when Martin Taylor sent home Henri Lansbury’s cross.

Sheffield Wednesday’s fine form under Alan Irvine continued with a 2-0 win over Blackpool.

Tommy Spurr put the ball in for James O’Connor who powered an unstoppable header beyond Seasiders goalkeeper Paul Rachubka.

Darren Potter doubled the lead with a left-footed shot in off the post.

A last-minute penalty by Shane Long saw Reading move out of the relegation zone with a 2-1 win over fellow strugglers Plymouth.

Long put the Royals ahead when he converted Brian Howard’s cross with a right-footed shot but the Pilgrims equalised through Carl Fletcher with a little over 20 minutes remaining.

Long then earned all three points after Chris Clark fouled Hal Robson-Kanu.

Elsewhere, Leicester and Doncaster drew 0-0.