MK Dons have closed to within a point of League One leaders Bristol City after a 7-0 victory over Oldham Athletic.
Will Grigg and Dean Bowditch gave Karl Robinson's men total control before half time and the game was over as a contest within six minutes of the restart as Grigg netted his second and Darren Potter joined the party at Stadium MK.
Dele Alli added a fifth with 13 minutes remaining for the division's top scorers, before Benik Afobe and Carl Baker also got in on the act.
City suffered a surprise defeat at the hands of bottom-of-the-table Crewe Alexandra after Jamie Ness's 74th-minute strike secured three points for the Railwaymen.
Swindon Town missed the opportunity to leapfrog the leaders after they lost at home to Doncaster Rovers thanks a first-half penalty from Theo Robinson. The result sees the Robins drop out of the automatic promotion places.
Preston North End are also within a point of the League One summit after a solitary Jermaine Beckford goal saw them to a sixth consecutive away victory over Peterborough United at London Road, extending Posh's miserable recent run.
Tom Bradshaw's 11th goal of the season gave Walsall a point against League Cup semi-finalists Sheffield United at Bramall Lane, although the Blades remain in the playoff places.
Playoff rivals Notts County maintained their unbeaten away record after Garry Thompson's 95th-minute goal gave the Magpies a draw at Rochdale, but Dale stay in the top six on goal difference.
Bradford City missed the chance to move into the top six after Hakeeb Adelakun's 94th-minute equaliser saw Scunthorpe United move out of the bottom four after drawing at Valley Parade.
Colchester United ended a run of five successive defeats as Craig Eastmond's late goal saw the Essex club beat fellow strugglers Yeovil Town at Huish Park.
First-half strikes from Michael Brown and Louis Dodds were enough for Port Vale to claim a 2-1 win at Crawley Town and leave the Sussex outfit two points above the drop zone.
Crawley are level on points with Gillingham, who had fought back from two goals down at home to Chesterfield before Jimmy Ryan scored late on to give the Spirites victory at the Priestfield Stadium.
Barnsley marked Danny Wilson's 1000th game as a manager by beating second-from-bottom Leyton Orient thanks to first-half goals from Conor Hourihane and Devante Cole.
However, the Tykes played the final 17 minutes with 10 men after Ross Turnbull was sent off for handling the ball outside his area.
Coventry City had Simeon Jackson to thank after he rescued the Sky Blues a point against Fleetwood Town at the Ricoh Arena, but the Midlands side remain in 17th place.
Results in full: Barnsley 2-0 Leyton Orient, Bradford City 1–1 Scunthorpe Utd, Coventry City 1–1 Fleetwood Town, Crawley Town 1–2 Port Vale, Crewe Alexandra 1–0 Bristol City, Gillingham 2–3 Chesterfield, MK Dons 7–0 Oldham Athletic, Peterborough United 0–1 Preston North End, Rochdale 2–2 Notts County, Sheffield United 1–1 Walsall, Swindon Town 0–1 Doncaster Rovers, Yeovil Town 0–1 Colchester United
Chris O'Keefe
