The English Football League returned for a full schedule following the FA Cup third round last weekend, with all three leagues providing plenty of action.

Each EFL fixture was marked with a minute’s applause for former England manager, Graham Taylor, who sadly died on Thursday, aged 72.

On Thursday, in the Championship, Jamie Mackie’s goal claimed all the points for Queens Park Rangers away at Reading. Leeds United went third after Chris Wood (Pictured below) downed Derby County at Elland Road on Friday.

Newcastle United climbed back to the summit of the second-tier on Saturday, courtesy of Darryl Murphy’s late header in a 2-1 triumph at Brentford.

Rafael Benitez’s Magpies leapfrogged Brighton and Hove Albion, who slipped to second following a 2-0 defeat to Preston North End.

In the early game, Bristol City succumbed to a seventh-straight loss against local rivals Cardiff City at Ashton Gate, after Anthony Pilkington’s long-range strike settled a five-goal thriller in the Severnside derby. Birmingham City and Nottingham Forest ended 0-0 at St Andrew’s, bringing an end to Philippe Montanier’s tenure as Forest manager.

Sheffield Wednesday saw off Huddersfield Town 2-0 in an all Yorkshire encounter at Hillsborough, Chris Martin inspired Fulham to victory against Barnsley, and a Joe Mason goal edged Wolverhampton Wanderers past Aston Villa at Molineux in a Midlands derby.

Debutant Callum Connolly’s brace ensured Wigan Athletic recorded a huge win in their battle against relegation, beating Burton Albion 2-0 at the Pirelli Stadium to move three points shy of safety.

Blackburn Rovers remain in trouble, going down 3-2 against Ipswich Town. Rock-bottom Rotherham United got past 10-man Norwich City on home soil.

In League One, leaders Sheffield United had a day to forget. The Blades were thumped 4-1 on their travels at Walsall.

United’s defeat meant second-place Scunthorpe United had the opportunity to close the gap, and they did, when Josh Morris’ curled effort into the top corner claimed maximum points in a 2-1 win at Northampton Town.

Bolton Wanderers remain five points adrift of the top two after Yaser Kasim’s 89th minute strike guided Swindon Town to a 2-1 victory at the Macron Stadium.

In League Two, James Coppinger’s brace helped Doncaster Rovers to come from behind and beat Barnet 3-1 away. Darren Ferguson’s team are four points clear at the top.

Plymouth Argyle, who are second, warmed up for their FA Cup third round replay against Liverpool by seeing off Stevenage in a 4-2 win at Home Park. Carlisle and Morecambe shared the points at Brunton Park.

Conor Chaplin’s brace helped fourth-place Portsmouth to three points against Leyton Orient. Luton Town won 2-1 at Crewe Alexandra.

Shoot! takes a look at What’s Hot and What’s Not from the EFL…

Championship: Hot – Preston North End

Preston North End extended their unbeaten run in the Championship to three games, after goals in either half from Paul Huntington (Above) and Callum Robinson efficiently overcame Brighton and Hove Albion at Deepdale.

Simon Grayson’s Lilywhites clipped the wings of the high-flying Seagulls, with North End inflicting a first defeat for Brighton since September to move up to ninth in the second-tier, keeping a second successive league clean sheet, as Chris Maxwell denied Tomer Hemed from the penalty spot.

Next up for Preston, who are six points off the play-offs, is a trip to Villa Park on Saturday.

Championship: Not – Bristol City

Lee Johnson’s Bristol City are having a real tough time of it in the Championship.

The Robins have endured a club-record seven defeats on the spin following Saturday’s 3-2 reverse at home to Cardiff City in the Severnside derby.

Perched in 19th in the division, the Ashton Gate club are three points above the relegation places after their barren run, which is getting severely out of hand.

League One: Hot – James Vaughan and Bury

What a way for Bury to achieve their first win in 21 games, thrashing Peterborough United 5-1 – including a four-goal haul in 20 minutes for James Vaughan.

Tom Nicholls prodded Posh into an early lead at Gigg Lane, but Vaughan took matters into his own hands.

The 28-year-old equalised in the seventh minute, before adding a further three goals in quick succession.

George Miller completed the rout in the second-half for the Shakers, who move out the bottom four.

League One: Not – Sheffield United

League One leaders Sheffield United were stunned at the Banks’s Stadium, as Walsall turned on the style.

Chris Wilder’s (Inset) Blades slumped to their first defeat in seven games, which was coincidentally to the Saddlers back in November.

Strikes from Amadou Bakayoko, Jason McCarthy, Joe Edwards and Erhun Oztumer’s penalty sealed a miserable day for the Steel City outfit, who remain a point clear of Scunthorpe United and six above Bolton Wanderers.

League Two: Hot – Doncaster Rovers

Darren Ferguson’s Doncaster Rovers are firmly on course for an immediate return to League One.

The Yorkshire outfit have attained 55 points so far this season, having claimed five wins from six games after a comeback victory at Barnet.

A first-half brace from James Coppinger (Pictured), either side of John Marquis’ goal secured the points at the Hive, to continue Donny’s impressive form.

League Two: Not – Accrington Stanley

At the other end of the table, Accrington Stanley dropped down to 21st after losing a relegation six-pointer to Cheltenham Town.

John Coleman’s (Above) East Lancashire outfit were well beaten at Whaddon Road. Danny Wright, Diego De Girolamo and Billy Walters were on target for the Gloucestershire club.

Stanley are two points above the bottom two, and host Carlisle United at the Crown Ground this weekend.