Cardiff moved to the top of the Championship table with a 2-1 victory at Oakwell that heaped more misery on struggling Barnsley.
Cardiff, who went to the summit after Crystal Palace failed to win at Leeds, controlled the majority of play and took the lead when Ben Nugent headed home his first career goal in the 22nd minute.
They doubled their lead six minutes into the second half when they enjoyed more success at a set-piece, with Aron Gunnarsson nodding in another Peter Whittingham delivery.
The win, which came despite a late dismissal for Simon Lappin, ended Cardiff's poor away run. It was their first victory in seven games on the road and an automatic promotion challenge looks on the cards for Malky Mackay's side.
In contrast, things could not be going worse for Barnsley, though they did at least make a game of it when Jacob Mellis tucked home from close range in the final 15 minutes. But they are now winless in seven and without a home win since September 1, with a gloomy winter beckoning at Oakwell.
The Reds started well, with Jonathan Greening's intricate passing fitting in with their style and he was involved in a nice move that saw Scott Golbourne cross for Craig Davies, but the striker fired over from eight yards.
After a spell of three chances in two minutes, the visitors went ahead midway through the first half. First Greening was dispossessed in a dangerous position by Craig Noone, but his shot went just wide of the post and a minute later Joe Mason was set free only to be denied by a fingertip save from Luke Steele.
But from the resulting corner, Nugent got in front of his marker and powered Whittingham's delivery home.
Barnsley tried to respond before the break, but Matt Done mis-kicked his shot when picked out by Marcus Tudgay and then David Marshall produced a fine low save from Davies' fierce effort from just inside the 18-yard box.
In the second half, Martin Cranie was caught dawdling on the ball in his own area, Mason stole it off him and pulled it back to Heidar Helguson, but Steele somehow pulled off a miraculous save as he flung himself across goal.
But Steele's heroics were in vain as an unmarked Gunnarsson headed home the corner to give Mackay's side breathing space.
It could have got worse had Steele not kept out Rudy Gestede's palm-stinger and Kim Bo-kyung dragged the rebound wide.
Barnsley did at least make a game of it when Mellis converted Scott Wiseman's deep cross in the 76th minute, but, despite Cardiff going down to 10 men and a late flurry, they could not find a leveller.
Palace's 14-game unbeaten run ended in defeat at Elland Road, allowing Malky Mackay's men to return to the summit.
The Bluebirds controlled the majority of play at Oakwell and took the lead when Ben Nugent headed home his first career goal in the 22nd minute.
They doubled their advantage six minutes into the second half when Aron Gunnarsson nodded in another Peter Whittingham delivery.
Barnsley did at least make a game of it when Jacob Mellis tucked home from close range 14 minutes from time, but the visitors held on - despite the late dismissal of Simon Lappin.
Palace surrendered top spot after going down at Leeds, Luciano Becchio and Paul Green the men on target as Neil Warnock's side kicked off their new era in style after having been bought by GFH Capital this week.
Peter Ramage got a late consolation for the Eagles but they could not find an equaliser.
Leicester climbed to third thanks to their 2-0 triumph at Sheffield Wednesday - while Middlesbrough and Hull were both losing.
Ben Marshall scored one goal and set up another on his return to Hillsborough as the Foxes consigned the Owls to a fourth straight league defeat.
Middlesbrough suffered a surprise 3-1 loss against Bristol City at the Riverside, the lowly Robins ending an 11-game winless run to move out of the relegation zone.
City took a shock lead in foggy conditions through Albert Adomah - a goal Boro goalkeeper Jason Steele will not want to see again - but high-flying Boro drew level before the break when Ishmael Miller netted after a penalty-area scramble.
Shortly after the hour mark Stephen Pearson put the visitors back in front and the victory was sealed with just three minutes to go when substitute Steven Davies netted.
Hull went down 1-0 at home to Burnley, Dean Marney notching the only goal of the game to halt the Clarets' mini slide under new boss Sean Dyche.
In-form Millwall climbed above opponents Blackburn and up to sixth after a 2-0 triumph at Ewood Park.
Chris Wood smashed his seventh goal in seven games 19 minutes from time and James Henry sealed it at the death to extend the Lions' unbeaten league run to 10 games.
Nottingham Forest remained behind the Lions only on goal difference after coming from behind to win 2-1 at Wolves.
Adlene Guedioura marked his return to Molineux with a brilliant long-range winner against his former club, the Algerian settling the game in the 57th minute after Billy Sharp had cancelled out Bjorn Sigurdarson's early opener.
Brighton were made to rue a number of missed opportunities as David Ngog's last-gasp strike earned Bolton an unlikely 1-1 draw at the Amex Stadium.
The former Liverpool striker netted with the last kick of the game to cancel out Bruno Saltor's opener and preserve Dougie Freedman's unbeaten record as Bolton boss following his move from Crystal Palace.
Adam Clayton converted a late penalty to salvage a 1-1 draw for 10-man Huddersfield against Charlton.
The Terriers saw Keith Southern dismissed in the first half and fell behind to Rob Hulse's effort after 60 minutes, but Simon Grayson's men hit back with two minutes to play as Clayton kept his cool to net his first goal in 12 matches.
Blackpool fought back from two goals down to draw 2-2 against Watford.
The Tangerines trailed 2-0 after only 21 minutes through goals from Ikechi Anya and Troy Deeney, but veteran Kevin Phillips threw the hosts a lifeline within seven minutes of the restart and Thomas Ince snatched a point for his team in stoppage time.
The battle between the division's bottom two teams, Ipswich and Peterborough, finished 1-1 at Portman Road.
Lee Tomlin's sixth goal of the season handed the visitors an eighth-minute lead but it was not enough to claim all three points. Tomlin turned villain on the hour as he brought down Lee Martin in the penalty area, leaving on-loan QPR striker DJ Campbell to equalise from the spot.
