Middlesbrough picked up their first victory under Tony Pulis by overcoming Preston North End 3-2 at Deepdale on a busy day in the Championship.

The Smoggies, beaten 1-0 by Aston Villa in the Welshman's first game in charge, let slip a one-goal lead but then recovered to take all three points back to the North-East.

There was further disappointment for automatic promotion chasers Cardiff City, meanwhile, as they lost for the fourth match in a row during the festive period.

Queens Park Rangers battled back after falling behind to a Joe Ralls penalty at Loftus Road, moving themselves six points clear of the dropzone in the process.

Derby County could only slightly capitalise, though, with a 1-1 home draw to Sheffield United extending their unbeaten run to a seventh game, while fifth-placed Leeds United were held to a goalless draw by managerless Nottingham Forest.

Another side seeking a new boss in Sheffield Wednesday suffered the biggest defeat of New Year's Day fixtures, shipping three goals at home to strugglers Burton Albion.

Having recently put an end to their year-long winless home run, there was further disappointment for Sunderland as they lost 1-0 at home to Barnsley, while Hull City are now in even more trouble after going down 1-0 to Bolton Wanderers in a relegation six-pointer.

Millwall were also on the end of a defeat, conceding two second-half goals at Carrow Road after taking the lead through striker Steve Morison's second goal in the space of a few days.

Championship results in full: Bolton 1-0 Hull, Derby 1-1 Sheffield United, Leeds 0-0 Forest, Norwich 2-1 Millwall, Preston 2-3 Middlesbrough, QPR 2-1 Cardiff, Sheff Weds 0-3 Burton, Sunderland 0-1 Barnsley