The Championship takes a break for the final internationals of 2024, with Sunderland still leading the way at the top of the league but only now on goal difference to Sheffield United.
At the other end, things go from bad to worse in West London, as Leeds get back on track by sinking sorry QPR.
Here are the winners and losers from this weekend's Championship action.
Winners
Portsmouth
A first home win of the season and QPR's defeat at Elland Road saw Pompey move off the bottom of the league. The South Coast club remain one of the favourites for the drop in the Championship, but the 3-1 win over Preston shows they up for the fight in this league.
Sheffield United
Nothing like signing off for the international break with a win against your city rivals. The 1-0 win kept up the pressure on Sunderland at the top of the league, which means their hoodoo over Sheffield Wednesday continues until the reverse fixture later in the season.
Middlesbrough
Michael Carrick wasn't know for his goal-scoring during his playing days, but his team are showing they know where the net is. After sticking four past QPR in midweek, they followed it up by thrashing Luton 5-1 at the Riverside to prove they will be very much in the play-off hunt.
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Losers
Queens Park Rangers
In April, the R's played Leeds off the park and beat them 4-0 to put pay to their automatic promotion hopes. The victory led to high hopes for Rangers this season, but they haven't won at Loftus Road since, and defeat at Elland Road saw Marti Cifuentes side slump to the bottom of the table. With only win all season, there's some work to do in West London before it's too late.
Rob Edwards
Adapting back to Championship life hasn't been easy for Luton and the pressure is mounting on boss Rob Edwards. Being thumped 5-1 by Middlesbrough is a nasty way to go into an international break and it feels the Hatters need to turn things around fast.
Norwich
A home defeat to Bristol City means it's no win in six now for the Canaries, who are sleepwalking down the table. A regroup in the break is needed for Johannes Hoff Thorup before fans start to get restless - especially with former Carrow Road favourite Mark Robins now on the managerial market.
This weekend's results
Friday 8 November
- Watford 1-0 Oxford United
Saturday 9 November
- Cardiff City 1-3 Blackburn Rovers
- Middlesbrough 5-1 Luton Town
- Stoke City 1-1 Millwall
- Derby County 1-1. Plymouth Argyle
- Leeds United 2-0 Queens Park Rangers
- Norwich City 0-2 Bristol City
- Portsmouth 3-1 Preston North End
- Sunderland 2-2 Coventry City
Sunday 10 November
- Sheffield United 1-0 Sheffield Wednesday
- Hull City 1-2 West Bromwich Albion
- Burnley 1-0 Swansea City
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