Neil Redfearn’s first game as permanent Leeds manager ended in a disappointing 3-1 defeat against Cardiff on Saturday.
Redfearn’s full-time appointment was confirmed prior to kick-off, with the 49-year-old handed an initial 12-month contract with an option for a further year or a return to his academy duties once that period is over.
The boyhood Leeds fan is the third manager appointed by controversial Italian owner Massimo Cellino this season and Leeds fans will hope he can have the sort of stabilising effect recently hired boss Russell Slade has had at Cardiff.
Bruno Manga’s first Bluebirds goal and Federico Macheda’s strike put the hosts in control at the Cardiff City Stadium.
Alex Mowatt gave Leeds hope by pulling one back 13 minutes from time, but Kenwyne Jones made the points safe when he pounced on a defensive mix up to slot home his sixth goal of the season.
Watford returned to the top of the second tier table after coming from behind to beat Millwall 3-1 at Vicarage Road.
Martyn Woolford had fired the Lions into an early lead, but the Hornets overhauled the deficit by the interval as Matej Vydra equalised before Daniel Tozser’s powerful free-kick gave his side the lead in stoppage-time.
Slavisa Jokanovic’s men made sure of the points when Gianni Munari netted the third with a cool finish after the break.
Middlesbrough moved up to second after goals by Patrick Bamford, Yanick Wildschut and Lee Tomlin secured a 3-0 win over Rotherham, who had Jordan Bowery was sent off less than five minutes after coming on as substitute.
Bamford, who is on loan from Chelsea, opened the scoring with a precise shot in the eighth minute and Wildschut doubled the lead 11 minutes later before Tomlin rounded off the scoring with three minutes left.
Bowery was given a straight red card for aiming a kick at George Friend.
Birmingham manager Gary Rowett saw his new team hold local rivals Wolves to a gritty 0-0 draw at Molineux.
Dave Edwards hit the bar for Wolves while Birmingham’s Jonathan Grounds escaped a clear handball in the area.
Koby Arthur and Clayton Donaldson wasted the visitors’ best chances in Rowett’s first game in charge since he replaced Lee Clark earlier this week.
Former Burton boss Rowett made four changes from the side thumped 8-0 at home by Bournemouth last week, 48 hours before his appointment, and the switches produced a more committed display from his side.
There was no dream debut for new Blackpool manager Lee Clark as the division’s bottom club suffered a fourth successive defeat, losing 2-0 at home to Ipswich, with David McGoldrick and Daryl Murphy scoring the goals.
Kit Symons celebrated his permanent appointment as Fulham boss with a 3-3 draw at Wigan secured by an 88th minute Bryan Ruiz penalty for the Cottagers.
Nottingham Forest’s poor run of form continued with a 3-0 defeat at Huddersfield, Blackburn beat Reading 3-1, while Charlton drew 1-1 with Sheffield Wednesday.