Mick McCarthy's side had previously dropped only two points from eight matches, winning their last seven, but they were undone after only four minutes when goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey punched the ball into his own net under pressure following a corner.

Andre Bikey (71) made sure of the points by heading in a second and Kalifa Cisse added gloss with a third two minutes from time.

Victory at Derby would have seen Birmingham move level with Wolves but Steve Davies struck three minutes from time to earn Paul Jewell's side a point after Quincy Owusu-Abeyie (26) had put the Blues ahead.

Ferrie Bodde's 40-yard scorcher and a Jordi Gomez (80) penalty meant Preston were on the wrong end of a 2-0 home defeat, with Swansea bouncing back after their 4-0 loss to Reading at the weekend.

Burnley, Sheffield Wednesday and Sheffield United all climbed above Preston with victories over Watford, Nottingham Forest and Doncaster respectively.

Burnley twice came from behind at Turf Moor with Will Hoskins putting the Hornets (6 and 45) ahead. A penalty from Graham Alexander (25) and Martin Paterson's turn and shot drew the hosts level and Wade Elliott (69) headed the winner.

Wednesday inflicted more misery on rock-bottom Forest with Etienne Esajas' deflected shot three minutes into the second half giving them a 1-0 win.

Doncaster are another side tumbling down the table and the Blades eased to a 2-0 victory thanks to an own goal from Gareth Roberts (14) and Stephen Quinn's strike.

Cardiff got back to winning ways after losing their unbeaten record at the weekend with Jay Bothroyd (31) grabbing his first goal for the club and Ross McCormack (85) netting his seventh of the season from the penalty spot in a 2-1 win over Coventry. Scott Dann grabbed a late consolation.

Bristol City came from two goals down to earn a 2-2 Westcountry derby draw with Plymouth Argyle at Ashton Gate. Jamie Mackie (6) and Rory Fallon (18) put the visitors ahead but John Akinde (63) pulled one back on his debut and David Noble (88) fired in an equaliser from distance.

Struggling Southampton made it two wins in a row with a 2-0 home victory over Norwich. Jordan Robertson (29) opened the scoring from 25 yards and David McGoldrick (64) netted the second from the spot with Dejan Stefanovic sent off for fouling Adam Lallana.

Ipswich were convincing 3-0 winners over Barnsley at Portman Road. Jon Stead seized on a goalkeeping mistake to open the scoring, Owen Garvan doubled the lead and a third from Ivan Campo completed a miserable night for Barnsley keeper Heinz Muller, who dropped the Spaniard's long-range effort over the line on 69 minutes.

Barnsley's Reuben Noble-Lazarus became the youngest player to appear in a Football League match when he came on as a substitute, aged 15 years and 45 days.

QPR missed the chance to close in on the leaders as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Blackpool at Loftus Road.

Gary Taylor-Fletcher fired the visitors ahead with a superb long-range strike after 18 minutes. That was cancelled out by Dexter Blackstock (79), who headed in after Akos Buzsaky hit the bar with a free-kick, but Rangers could not find a winner.

Craig Beattie grabbed the only goal at Selhurst Park, heading in Ben Watson's cross after 63 minutes as Crystal Palace defeated London rivals Charlton 1-0.