Mirco Antenucci scored twice and Leeds scratched a nine-year itch against Derby as the Championship pace-setters were beaten 2-0 at Elland Road.
Prior to today United had failed to defeat the Rams since September 2005, some 12 games ago in their rivalry. That Derby won 10 of that dozen made it an all the more frustrating record for the Whites.
One win in 10 against anyone before this hardly inspired confidence either but Antenucci's double powered Leeds on as Steve McClaren's men were rattled in a way they rarely have been this season.
Noel Hunt grabbed a debut goal in stoppage time as Ipswich snatched a dramatic 1-0 win at Charlton.
The striker, who only joined Town on loan from Leeds 48 hours earlier, came on as an 83rd-minute substitute and struck the winner with the last kick of the match, leaving them just one point behind Derby at the summit.
Darren Bent scored on his Brighton debut but it was not enough to prevent the Seagulls slipping to a 2-1 defeat at home to fellow strugglers Fulham.
The former England striker was signed on loan from Aston Villa this week and made an immediate impact at the Amex Stadium with the opening goal early in the second half.
However, Brighton's lead lasted just 10 minutes before Hugo Rodallega struck an equaliser and Lasse Vigan Christensen's goal then turned the match in Fulham's favour. Defeat for the home side was compounded by the last-minute dismissal of Adrian Colunga as Sami Hyypia's Brighton slipped into the bottom three.
Brentford made it five successive wins with an emphatic 4-0 victory over Wolves.
Both sides came up from League One last season, Wolves as champions, but the Bees were a level above in this bruising encounter.
Goals from Alan Judge, Stuart Dallas, top scorer Andre Gray and Jota sealed the convincing win, which made it four straight defeats for Kenny Jackett's side.
Young defender Jake Cooper was the Reading hero as they emerged from a poor run of away form with an excellent 2-1 win at misfiring Norwich.
The 19-year-old opened his account for the Royals with two first-half headers to earn the points from the tussle after Gary Hooper had fired the hosts into an early lead.
It was Reading's first win in seven away matches, while Norwich have now only won once in 10 games and the team managed by Neil Adams were loudly booed off by frustrated fans at the final whistle.
Millwall substitute Magaye Gueye rescued a point with an 88th-minute leveller for the lowly Lions as they drew 2-2 at promotion-chasing Bournemouth.
French striker Gueye drove home the ball with just two minutes to spare at the Goldsands Stadium, in a match that had earlier seen the Cherries sail into a two-goal lead through Steve Cook and Brett Pitman.
There was late drama at the Riverside Stadium as Rudy Gestede struck deep in injury-time to give Blackburn a 1-1 draw at Middlesbrough.
Patrick Bamford looked to have won it for Boro with seven minutes remaining when he finally found a way to beat Rovers' brilliant goalkeeper Simon Eastwood, but then Gestede was on hand to power in a controversial equaliser when Dimi Konstantopoulos was left floored on the ground when he went up for a cross in to his area.
Watford were unable to mark their most successful manager's special day with a win, as Cardiff City celebrated their first away success of the season with a 1-0 victory at Vicarage Road.
Former Watford boss Graham Taylor returned to the club where he made his name to have a stand renamed in his honour, but then had to look on as the Hornets spurned numerous chances as they suffered a fourth straight defeat, Adam Le Fondre netting the only goal early on.
Birmingham beat Nottingham Forest 2-1 in a frantic finish at St Andrew's to increase their unbeaten run to five games under Gary Rowett.
Birmingham appeared to be coasting to a comfortable win following David Cotterill's first-half strike when Britt Assombalonga grabbed a fine equaliser in the 84th minute.
Assombalonga was Forest's hero with his goal but he then became their villain five minutes later when he handled the ball in the area and was sent off for the offence.
Paul Caddis, who had missed the previous penalty he had taken at St Andrew's, made no mistake from the spot sending goalkeeper Karl Darlow the wrong way.
Stevie May bagged a brace as Sheffield Wednesday ended their 11-game winless run with a 2-1 victory over struggling Wigan.
The Scotland international scored either side of half-time after Chris McCann opened the scoring at Hillsborough.
Craig Davies netted his fifth goal of the season to maintain Bolton's perfect home record under new manager Neil Lennon with a 1-0 victory at home to Huddersfield.
The much-travelled striker tapped in from six yards after 67 minutes as Huddersfield's winless streak extends to four games.
A late howler from Rotherham goalkeeper Adam Collin earned Blackpool a 1-1 draw at the New York Stadium.
Substitutes Jordan Bowery and Steve Davies each scored late goals to ensure the points were shared between the two Championship strugglers.