West Ham kept up the pressure on Reading and Southampton at the top of the Championship on Saturday with a 6-0 win against Brighton, while Doncaster became the first team to be relegated after a dramatic 4-3 loss to fellow strugglers Portsmouth.
The Hammers tightened their grip on third place with a hammering of play-off hopefuls Brighton. Ricardo Vaz Te set up victory with two goals inside the opening eight minutes and completed his hat-trick just after the hour.
Kevin Nolan was also on target as the Hammers established their early stranglehold while Carlton Cole st ruck and Gary Dicker turned into his own net in the second half.
At the other end of the table, bottom side Doncaster looked like earning at least a temporary reprieve as they opened up a 2-0 lead at the Keepmoat Stadium with goals from Habib Beye and Fabien Robert inside the opening five minutes.
But all began to go wrong as Beye conceded the first of two penalties early in the second half to earn a red card.
Greg Halford tucked away both spot-kicks and although James Coppinger put Doncaster back ahead, Pompey substitutes Dave Kitson and Marko Futacs sealed their fate in the closing minutes.
Portsmouth themselves remain seven points off safety with just nine points to play for, while the other side in the bottom three, Coventry, could only manage a 1-1 draw at Burnley.
Charlie Austin gave the Clarets a 20th-minute lead at Turf Moor with the Sky Blues, who are four points from the crucial 21st place, replying through Clive Platt.
Sixth-placed Cardiff gained ground in the play-off race as Birmingham and Blackpool, in fourth and fifth respectively, were held to draws.
Liam Lawrence struck for Cardiff after 69 minutes to secure a 1-0 victory at Barnsley.
Birmingham had to come from behind to claim a point and a 2-2 draw with Bristol City at St Andrews.
The Robins led through Stephen Pearson and Jon Stead but Marlon King and Nikola Zigic secured the draw.
Blackpool's trip to Nottingham Forest ended in a goalless stalemate.
Middlesbrough kept their play-off hopes alive with a 1-0 win at Derby thanks to a Curtis Main strike 10 minutes from time.
Billy Paynter and Ross McCormack scored two apiece as Leeds beat Peterborough 4-1 at Elland Road. The visitors had been level at half-time after a Joe Newell effort.
Hull's downturn continued as they were held 1-1 by 10-man Watford at V icarage Road despite taking an early lead through James Chester.
Troy Deeney claimed an equaliser for the Hornets, who held on after the dismissal of Adrian Mariappa for two bookings in quick succession.
A strike from Harry Kane and a penalty from Andrew Keogh helped Millwall to a 2-1 home win over Leicester, whose late reply came from Daniel Drinkwater.
Jason Scotland cancelled out a Chris Martin goal as Ipswich came from behind to draw 1-1 at Crystal Palace.
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