Newcastle United is only top of the Championship on goal difference after Fulham stormed to a 3-1 win at St James' Park.

Promotion rival Brighton and Hove Albion moved level on points with Rafael Benitez's men by dispatching Derby County 3-0 on Saturday (AEDT) and Newcastle could not respond in kind as 16-year-old Ryan Sessegnon hit a memorable brace for play-off chasing Fulham.

Huddersfield Town, beaten by Newcastle last weekend, kept up its pursuit of the top two as winger Rajiv van La Parra scored the only goal at Brentford.

At the other end of the table, Bristol City climbed out of the bottom three by beating fellow struggler Wigan Athletic at DW Stadium courtesy of a late Aden Flint goal.

Newcastle suffered its second setback of the week having been held to a goalless draw by Reading on Wednesday (AEDT).

Fulham hit the front after 15 minutes as Tom Cairney arrowed a superb strike into the top corner and Sessegnon collected Sone Aluko's backheel to double the advantage after half-time.

The youngster made it two goals in eight minutes before the hour before Daryl Murphy curled home a consolation for the hosts, although Fulham's run of five matches unbeaten rarely looked under threat and Tim Ream missed an injury time penalty for the visitors.

Sheffield Wednesday lost 2-0 at Aston Villa, Jonathan Kodjia's brace taking him to 15 for the season and moving Steve Bruce's side 10 points clear of the drop zone, leaving Fulham just two points shy of the top six.

Brentford sits a point below Villa in a congested mid-table after Van La Parra cut in from the flank to secure Huddersfield's ninth away victory of the season.

Preston North End is up to eighth having done what Newcastle could not manage by thumping fifth-placed Reading 3-0. 

Leeds United was held to a goalless draw by Queens Park Rangers at Elland Road, meaning it is five points adrift of near neighbour Huddersfield in fourth having played a game more.

Norwich City dismissed manager Alex Neil on the eve of Blackburn Rovers' trip to Carrow Road and the Canaries had Mitchell Dijks sent off for a rash challenge on Marvin Emnes after Cameron Jerome put them ahead.

A quickfire brace inside the final 20 minutes from Lucas Joao appeared to be moving Rovers away from the relegation zone but Jerome earned a share of the spoils.

Flint's intervention from an 88th-minute Bristol City corner means Tony Mowbray's team is third bottom on goal difference.

Rotherham United is counting down the days to relegation after Wolverhampton Wanderers' Andreas Weimann netted the only goal in first-half stoppage-time at Molineux, keeping the host's head above water and leaving the Millers 21 points adrift of safety.

Elsewhere, Burton Albion leapfrogged Nottingham Forest as Cauley Woodrow's free-kick sealed a 1-0 win, while Ipswich Town and Birmingham City struck late to claim 1-1 draws at Barnsley and Cardiff City respectively.