Derby extended their lead at the top of the table to three points thanks to a 2-1 win at struggling Barnsley.

The Rams took an 11th-minute lead when David Jones turned in a rebound after David Lucas blocked Jon Macken’s effort, and they added a second three minutes into the second half when Lucas’ punch fell kindly for Matt Oakley to drill in.

Sam Togwell pulled one back for Barnsley deep into injury time but Billy Davies’ men took the points.

It was a calamitous day for Wolves, who lost 6-0 at home to Southampton, a result which took the Saints within three points of them and allowed bitter rivals West Brom to leapfrog them into fifth.

Marek Saganowski started Saints’ spree with a 24th-minute header and it was clear the luck was against Wolves when Gary Breen unwittingly deflected the ball into his own net for a second.

Saganowski scored Southampton’s third and Michael Kightly missed a penalty on the stroke of half-time.

Second-half goals from Leon Best, Andrew Surman and Saganowski compounded the misery for Mick McCarthy’s men.

The news from west London would not have cheered them up either as West Brom beat QPR 2-1 at Loftus Road.

Kevin Phillips put the Baggies ahead (48) after Jason Koumas led a swift counter-attack. Dexter Blackstock levelled for Rangers in the 63rd minute and three minutes later Paul Furlong missed a penalty.

That mistake proved very costly as Zoltan Gera grabbed the winner with six minutes left.

Hull were the big winners in the battle to stay up as a Dean Windass hat-trick helped them to a 4-0 win over Southend.

The result saw the Tigers climb five points above the drop zone, with Sam Ricketts (81) adding their fourth.

Luton remain bottom after a goalless draw at Burnley in Kevin Blackwell’s first match in charge.

Stoke stayed ninth, on the fringe of the play-off picture, with a 4-2 victory over Leicester.

The Foxes led through an early Darren Kenton goal but Stoke stormed back as Jon Parkin (18) and a 29th-minute Ricardo Fuller penalty gave them the half-time lead. Mamady Sidibe gave them a two-goal cushion in the 79th minute and Liam Lawrence notched the fourth in injury time.

Colchester earned their 13th home league win of the season by beating Norwich 3-0 at Layer Road.

All the Us’ goals came in the second half as Jamie Cureton – who began his career with the Canaries – scored the first (52), Richard Garcia added a second in the 64th-minute and Chris Iwelumo scored the third nine minutes later.

The first-minute dismissal of Mathias Doumbe left Plymouth struggling at Ipswich and they slumped to a 3-0 defeat. The game was essentially over after 15 minutes following goals from Owen Garvan and Alan Lee and Danny Haynes added a third in the last minute.

Sheffield Wednesday leapfrogged Crystal Palace with a 2-1 win in a mid-table clash at Selhurst Park.

Deon Burton put the Owls in front (57) before Clinton Morrison equalised with 10 minutes left.

However, Brian Laws’ men snatched it as Marcus Tudgay scored his 10th of the season in the 85th minute.