Newcastle United turned on the style at St James’ Park to move back to the top of the Championship, after goals from Darryl Murphy, Ayoze Perez and Matt Ritchie’s brace defeated basement boys Rotherham United.

The Magpies are a point above Brighton and Hove Albion, following Anthony Knockaert’s double that edged the Seagulls past Sheffield Wednesday in a fiery encounter which saw three men sent-off at the Amex Stadium on Friday night.

Huddersfield Town finished the weekend in third, seeing off Mick McCarthy’s Ipswich Town at the John Smith’s Stadium, courtesy of strikes from Izzy Brown and Christopher Schindler.

In League One, table-topping Sheffield United were held by Gillingham at Bramall Lane, despite going in front twice through Billy Sharp and Kieron Freeman.

Chris Wilder’s Blades remain clear of the chasing pack, with Scunthorpe United’s fixture away to Charlton Athletic, along with Bolton Wanderers’ game against Southend United at Roots Hall both postponed due to frozen pitches.

Doncaster Rovers sit pretty at the summit of League Two. Darren Ferguson’s side overcame Crewe Alexandra at the Keepmoat Stadium. Conor Grant, John Marquis and Tommy Rowe were all on target in the 3-1 win, which strengthens their grip on top spot to four points.

Their nearest challengers, Plymouth Argyle, beat Cheltenham Town 2-1 at Whaddon Road, with Sonny Bradley’s brace, including an injury-time header, sealing maximum points for the Pilgrims.

Carlisle United, who occupy the final automatic promotion place, were held to a 1-1 draw away to Accrington Stanley at the Crown Ground.

So, What’s Hot and What’s Not from the weekend’s EFL action? Shoot! takes a look…

Championship Hot: Newcastle United

Matt Ritchie netted a brace for Newcastle – Photo: Marc Atkins / Offside.

Newcastle United made it two wins on the spin on Saturday, showing their ruthless side to emphatically defeat rock-bottom Rotherham United at St James’ Park.

Rafael Benitez’s table-toppers are in pole position to return to the Premier League at the first attempt, after putting four past the Millers.

The Magpies had lost four of their last 10 games in the second-tier, winning the other six, so Benitez will be hoping the Tyneside outfit can show more consistent form in order to see them back into the top-flight.

Championship Not: Bristol City

Photo: Paul Roberts / Offside.

By contrast, it just gets worse for Lee Johnson (Pictured) and Bristol City. The Robins have now lost their last eight games in the Championship.

Their latest defeat was a 1-0 loss against fellow strugglers Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on Saturday, as Ben Osborn’s goal increased the relegation fears for the Ashton Gate club.

The West Country outfit drop down to 20th in the division and are now just two points and two places above the relegation places.

League One Hot: Oxford United

Michael Appleton’s Oxford United recorded the standout result in League One on Saturday, when they put four past play-off hopefuls Rochdale on their travels at Spotland.

The U’s were two to the good at the interval, as goals from Marvin Johnson and Rob Hall put Oxford on their way to an emphatic victory in Greater Manchester.

In the second-half, further goals from Ryan Taylor and Ryan Ledson rounded off the scoring for the visitors, who move up to 12th in the third-tier.

League One Not: Northampton Town

Justin Edinburgh’s first game in charge of Northampton Town ended in a 5-3 defeat to local rivals Milton Keynes Dons at the Stadium MK.

Edinburgh, who succeeded Robert Page as the Cobblers manager, endured the worst possible start, when Chuks Aneke’s brace, as well as goals from Kieran Agard, Darren Potter and Harvey Barnes won it for the hosts in Buckinghamshire.

Northampton were reduced to three consolation goals from Gregg Wylde, and Marc Richards’ late brace. The result means Town have lost their last five games, and are 18th in League One, four points above the bottom four.

League Two Hot: Doncaster Rovers

Goalscorer John Marquis.

Is there any stopping Darren Ferguson’s in-form Donny at the moment?

It looks like there isn’t, after the Yorkshire outfit saw off Crewe Alexandra on home-soil to increase their grip at the top of League Two.

Rovers, who suffered relegation to the fourth-tier in May, have now won four games on the spin in their quest to claim an immediate return to League One.

League Two Not: Notts County

Kevin Nolan suffered his first defeat as Notts County manager after his side slipped to a 2-0 reverse at play-off chasing Grimsby Town.

Efforts from Omar Bogle (Above) and Scott Vernon confined Nolan’s relegation-threatened outfit to another loss at Blundell Park, with County winless in the league since a victory on the road at Portsmouth back in October.

The Meadow Lane club sit 23rd in the standings following their barren run, a point adrift of Cheltenham Town in the battle to avoid the drop into the conference.