The Championship's top eight have really pulled away from the chasing pack after all but one of the promotion hopefuls recorded victories during matchday 33 this midweek.

Derby County lead the way, two points clear of Middlesbrough, with Bournemouth the only side not to pick up a maximum in midweek as they lost to Dougie Freedman's resurgent Nottingham Forest last night.

The Cherries are one of three sides on 59 points, one behind Ipswich Town in third and four behind second-placed Boro.

Norwich City and Watford complete the top six and the former next face arch rivals Ipswich Town on Sunday in one of the bigger East Anglian derbies in recent memory.

Brentford and Wolverhampton Wanderers are just outside the playoffs and ready to pounce on any slip-ups from those above, with Freedman's improving Forest the only side realistically in with an outside chance of making it a nine-horse race.

At the bottom, Blackpool and Wigan Athletic look more and more likely to be confirmed as relegated sooner rather than later and now face each other in a huge six-pointer on Saturday.

Here, Sports Mole chooses its best XI from the midweek action, in a traditional 4-4-2 formation, as well as highlighting the biggest numpty and best goal.

Heurelho Gomes (Watford)
The 3-0 scoreline might suggest it was a comfortable night for Watford against Rotherham United, but Gomes had to be alert on several occasions to keep a clean sheet.

Eric Lichaj (Nottingham Forest)
It's now 13 points out of a possible 15 for Forest since Freedman arrived and Lichaj was largely faultless in the 2-1 win over Bournemouth.
Danny Batth (Wolverhampton Wanderers)
Headed home Wolves' first in the 10th minute to set them on their way to a 3-0 victory over Fulham.
Gordon Greer (Brighton & Hove Albion)
Brighton beat Leeds United 2-0 to stop the in-form Whites winning four away games for the first time since 2001 and Greer was a rock at centre-back.
Jack Robinson (Huddersfield Town)
The Terriers burst Reading's bubble with a 3-0 triumph at the John Smith's Stadium. Robinson made several key interception to preserve the home side's clean sheet.

Jacques Maghoma (Sheffield Wednesday)
Set up all of Wednesday's goals as they scored three for just the second time this season at Millwall.
Aron Gunnarsson (Cardiff City)
Not only did Gunnarsson score the only goal as Cardiff piled more misery on Wigan, he also produced an all-action display in the middle with several headers and tackles won.
Jon Toral (Brentford)
The on-loan Arsenal youngster bagged a hat-trick as Brentford racked up a season-record 42 shots in their 4-0 hammering of rockbottom Blackpool.
Bakary Sako (Wolverhampton Wanderers)
Back to his best of late, adding an assist and two goals in the first half against Fulham.

Freddie Sears (Ipswich Town)
Ipswich's 4-2 win over Birmingham City saw first goals for the club for Tyrone Mings and Kevin Bru, but Sears also broke his home duck at Portman Road with two crisp finishes.
Odion Ighalo (Watford)
Now the Championship's second-best marksman this season after two more goals against Rotherham to take his tally to 17, four behind Ipswich's Daryl Murphy. He's scored 13 in 2015, more than anyone else in the top four leagues.

Numpty of the Week

Adam Collin and Kari Arnason: All three goals scored by Watford were calamitous from Rotherham's point of view. Arnason's miscontrol and then slip to let Ighalo through for the opener was comical before Collin pushed a free kick straight to a yellow shirt for the second and then somehow lost control of the ball to gift the Hornets their third. A night to forget for the pair.

Goal of the Week

Bradley Johnson (Norwich City) vs. Blackburn Rovers: Norwich looked like they would be the only one of the top eight not to win, but then Johnson powered home this unstoppable first-time rocket from 20 yards in the 84th minute that almost broke the net at Ewood Park.