League leaders Southampton maintained top spot with a comfortable 3-0 win over struggling Nottingham Forest at The City Ground.

Brazilian Guilherme do Prado, David Connolly and French midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin were on the scoresheet for Nigel Adkins' men, while defender Luke Chambers was sent off for the hosts in the 50th minute - when the score was 1-0.

West Ham United remain level on points with Southampton after their 1-0 win over Portsmouth at Fratton Park.

Midfielder Mark Noble netted a 24th-minute spot-kick and his side held onto their one-goal advantage, with Portsmouth midfielder David Norris red-carded just before the hour mark.

Birmingham City surged into sixth courtesy of a 6-0 belting of Millwall at The Den.

Marlon King hit a brace, while Curtis Davies, Chris Burke, Adam Rooney and Nathan Redmond were all on the scoresheet in the rout.

Millwall finished the encounter with nine men after Shane Lowry and Alan Dunne were sent off, both for challenges on Serbian striker Nikola Zigic.

The match was marred by Millwall fans, who threw objects onto the pitch after Birmingham made it 3-0 in the 74th minute.

In other matches, third-placed Cardiff City could only manage a 0-0 draw at lowly Doncaster Rovers.

Robert Koren's 27th-minute strike gave Nick Barmby a dream start as full-time Hull City boss, as they edged Peterborough United 1-0.

Middlesbrough slumped to a 2-0 loss at home to Burnley, who had Jay Rodriguez and Kieran Trippier net in the first half.

Derby County moved into seventh after their fourth straight league win, a 1-0 victory over Coventry City thanks to Callum Ball's right-footed effort on 75 minutes.

Leeds United secured a 1-1 draw at Crystal Palace as Robert Snodgrass and Chris Martin exchanged goals, while the hosts had Sean Scannell sent off.

Goals from substitutes Elliot Grandin and Kevin Phillips helped Blackpool secure a come-from-behind 2-2 draw at Ipswich Town.

Andy Gray's brace saw Barnsley to a 2-0 win against Leicester City, while Brighton and Hove Albion defeated Bristol City 2-0.

Meanwhile, Reading maintained their place in the Championship playoff spots with a 2-1 away win over Watford.

Substitute Adam Le Fondre proved the hero for Reading with a late goal just three minutes after coming off the bench.

The home team went in front thanks to a Shaun Cummings own goal on 29 minutes but Reading levelled before the break when Jimmy Kebe headed in from close range.

The win lifts Reading back into fifth place.