Japan striker Tadanari Lee scored his first goal for Southampton as his side returned to the top of the English Championship with a 4-0 demolition of Derby at St Mary’s on Saturday.
Lee joined Saints from Sanfrecce Hiroshima on a free transfer in January and he finally broke his duck for Nigel Adkins’ team in his fifth appearance for his new club.
The 26-year-old struck in the 75th minute after goals from Jos Hooiveld, Aaron Martin, Adam Lallana had put Southampton firmly in control.
Southampton’s emphatic victory moved them two points clear of second-placed West Ham, although the Hammers have two games in hand in the race for promotion to the Premier League.
Hooiveld put Southampton in front from a corner and they doubled their lead 12 minutes after halftime when Martin finished from close range after another corner.
Daniel Fox completed his hat-trick of assists by teeing up Lallana’s goal in the 65th minute and Lee then scored his first goal in English football with a spectacular long-range effort as Saints extended their unbeaten run in the league to five games.
With West Ham not playing due to Blackpool’s participation in the FA Cup, fourth-placed Cardiff had a chance to close the gap but they crashed to a 3-0 defeat at Ipswich.
The Bluebirds, who face Liverpool in the League Cup final next weekend, remain four points behind West Ham as Lee Martin scored twice either side of a Michael Chopra strike.
Leeds striker Luciano Becchio fired a dramatic winner nine minutes into stoppage-time as Leeds came from two goals down to beat Doncaster 3-2 and give new manager Neil Warnock the perfect welcome to Elland Road.
Former QPR boss Warnock was appointed on an 18-month deal on Saturday after a meeting with owner Ken Bates in Monaco and, although temporary manager Neil Redfearn picked the side, Warnock spoke to his players before kick-off and also at halftime.
Warnock looked set for a miserable start as Mamadou Bagayoko scored in the 32nd and 54th minutes to put bottom of the table Doncaster in control.
But Andros Townsend reduced the deficit in the 55th minute and Adam Clayton equalised in the 80th minute before Becchio’s late intervention sealed the points.
Crisis-club Portsmouth slumped into the relegation zone as a dismal week ended with a 2-0 defeat at Barnsley.
Just over 24 hours after entering administration for a second time in two years, debt-ridden Pompey had striker Dave Kitson sent off in the first half before goals in the last 15 minutes from Jim O’Brien and Matt Done consigned them to defeat.
Nottingham Forest took advantage of Portsmouth’s woes to climb out of the bottom three with a 2-0 win over fellow strugglers Coventry at the City Ground.
Second-half goals from Garath McCleary and Robbie Findley gave Forest a first home victory since November and moved the Reds above their midlands rivals.
Elsewhere, Peterborough defeated Bristol City 3-0, while Crystal Palace crushed Watford 4-0.
