Chris Hughton’s table-topping Brighton and Hove Albion took another telling step towards promotion to the Premier League after they beat Queens Park Rangers 2-1 at Loftus Road on Friday night.

Second-half goals from Glenn Murray and Sebastien Pocognoli secured a huge victory for the Sussex club, in their quest for top-flight football.

The Seagulls are two points clear of second-placed Newcastle United, after Rafael Benitez’s Magpies slipped to a 2-1 defeat on their travels at play-off contenders Sheffield Wednesday in Saturday evening’s televised game.

Elsewhere, third-placed Huddersfield Town also suffered an away defeat, as the Terriers were downed by Nottingham Forest, courtesy of strikes from Eric Lichaj and Jamie Ward, which confirmed a 2-0 loss for the Yorkshiremen.

In League One, Sheffield United ended a six-year hiatus from the Championship after Chris Wilder’s Blades gained promotion with a 2-1 win at his former club, Northampton Town.

Second-half efforts from Leon Clarke, and an 88th minute strike from John Fleck, steered the Steel City club to victory to secure a return to the second-tier.

United’s nearest challengers, Bolton Wanderers, saw their nine-game unbeaten run halted by Scunthorpe United, who increased their play-off prospects after David Mirfin’s header early on separated the two sides at Glanford Park.

Fleetwood Town’s slim automatic promotion aspirations took a blow. The Fylde Coast outfit were beaten 2-0 by Oldham Athletic at Boundary Park.

Nathan Pond’s own goal in the first-half was followed by Lee Erwin’s volley proved to be decisive, with the result meaning Uwe Rosler’s Cod Army are seven points behind second-placed Bolton.

In League Two, Doncaster Rovers gained an immediate promotion back up to League One after Tommy Rowe’s late winner edged past Mansfield Town.

Derek Adams’ Plymouth Argyle, who are second, closed in on the third-tier following Ryan Taylor’s dramatic injury-time goal which clinched a 2-1 win at Crawley Town.

Portsmouth are also set for a promotion, after seeing off Yeovil Town 3-1 at Fratton Park, which moved Paul Cook’s Hampshire outfit eight points clear of fourth-placed Luton Town.

So, after a full round of action, here are five things Shoot! learned from the EFL weekend…

Seagulls at the summit

Brighton’s Glenn Murray.

Having gone close to securing top-flight football in the last few seasons, Brighton and Hove Albion are on the brink of the Premier League.

The south-coast club are 12 points clear of third-placed Huddersfield Town, and two points ahead of Newcastle United, as the topsy-turvy race to join England’s elite nears its exciting conclusion, with just five matches left to play.

Results certainly went in Albion’s favour over the course of the weekend. Chris Hughton’s side won a hard-fought contest at Queens Park Rangers on Friday, before watching their promotion-rivals both suffer defeats on their travels.

Spearheaded by Glenn Murray’s 21 goals throughout the course of this term, it is now a case of Brighton holding their nerve at the summit of the standings, having claimed maximum points in their previous three outings in the division.

Sheffield United and Doncaster become the first teams to be promoted

John Marquis of Doncaster Rovers.

There were two promotion parties in South Yorkshire on Saturday, as both Sheffield United and Doncaster Rovers became the first two teams to spray the champagne!

Sheffield United’s return to the Championship following an absence of six years was confirmed after Leon Clarke and John Fleck helped the Blades come from behind to beat Northampton 2-1 at Sixfields, which earned Chris Wilder a second successive promotion, against his former club.

Wilder’s outfit are now 13 games unbeaten, and have finally got out of the division for the first time since 2011.

Doncaster were also in celebratory mood. Tommy Rowe’s solitary goal against Mansfield at the Keepmoat Stadium earned a return to League One for Darren Ferguson’s men, who stormed to promotion.

Rovers have lost just one of their last 10 games, a run of form which has seen them cement their place at the top of the table and get promoted.

Seventh heaven for Norwich City

Wesley Hoolahan celebrates scoring Norwich’s second goal (Right).

It has been an indifferent campaign for Norwich City in their first season back in the EFL.

The Canaries have struggled for consistency, which paved the way for the sacking of Alex Neil last month.

Now under the stewardship of caretaker manager Alan Irvine, Norwich responded from Tuesday’s resounding defeat at Huddersfield Town by thumping Reading 7-1.

The Royals, who are fourth in the second-tier, were stunned as a rampant Norwich scored six goals in 41 first-half minutes.

Nelson Oliveira’s early penalty, followed by braces from Wes Hoolahan and Alex Pritchard, alongside Russell Martin’s tap in put Norwich six up at the interval.

Cameron Jerome prodded home in the dying embers to seal an emphatic three points at Carrow Road.

Norwich are now nine points adrift of the play-off positions, sitting in 10th position with five games remaining.

League One’s intriguing survival scrap

Coventry City manager Mark Robins.

The fight to stay in League One next season remains firmly in the balance.

Despite winning their games on Saturday, rock-bottom Coventry City and Chesterfield look consigned to relegation, with only four fixtures of the left to play.

The six positions above those two sides are separated by just five points, in what will be a nail-biting climax for those involved.

Currently, Swindon Town and Port Vale occupy the final two relegation positions, but then perched just outside the bottom four are a cluster of sides.

Gillingham, Shrewsbury Town, Bury and Oldham Athletic are all nervously looking over their shoulders in fear of getting sucked back into trouble.

The big winners on Saturday were Shrewsbury, who climbed out of the drop zone after Jack Payne netted the only goal to beat Rochdale at New Meadow, and Oldham, who beat Fleetwood Town 2-0 at Boundary Park.

Accrington’s amazing 13-game unbeaten streak

Accrington Stanley manager John Coleman and Mark Hughes.

What a run it has been for Accrington Stanley – they are unbeaten in 13 games, form which has seen them go from relegation candidates to the brink of the play-offs in the space of two-months.

John Coleman, who was named League Two manager of the month for March, watched on as his Stanley team came from two behind to beat Crewe Alexandra in a five-goal affair at the Crown Ground.

On Saturday, all three of Stanley’s goals came in the second-half, with Mark Hughes’ brace, either side of Shay McCartan’s equaliser winning it for the East Lancastrians to keep alive their play-off hopes – Accrington are 12th in the fourth-tier, heading into the end-of-season run-in.