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Kevin Kyle headed a 68th-minute winner as 10-man Sunderland beat Sheffield United 1-0 away to knock them off the top of the English first division on Saturday.
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West Bromwich Albion, like Sunderland relegated from the premier league in May,
leapt to the top with a 2-0 win at Gillingham with two goals in the space of
three first-half minutes from Scott Dobie and Neil Clement.
West Ham United, also looking to bounce straight back into the top flight, won 1-0 at Derby County with a goal one minute from time by Scotland international Don Hutchison. Ticketmaster
West Brom have 25 points, two more than Sheffield United and West Ham, with Sunderland and Wigan, held 1-1 at home by Norwich City, a further point back after 11 matches.
Hutchison, who came on with 20 minutes to go, volleyed home a Wayne Quinn corner from the right.
Both sides had good chances and Derby were unlucky to end a five-match unbeaten run.
West Ham's caretaker manager Trevor Brooking said: "Don came on mainly to hold the ball up but he's always good at set pieces."
Talking to Sky Sports News, Brooking added: "David James is a top class keeper in this division who makes the save that can turn a game."
On the half hour James did well to parry a low shot from Derby's Swedish striker Mathias Svensson. Ticketmaster
Derby goalkeeper Andy Oakes also made several fine saves at the other end, foiling West Ham's Ireland striker David Connolly once in each half by turning away his blistering shots from close range.
Oakes also tipped over a dipping drive from outside the box by Swedish international Niclas Alexandersson after a neat back-heeled pass by Connolly.
RED CARDS
Sunderland were reduced to 10 men for the last five minutes after their Argentine left back Julio Arca, who twice came close to scoring in the opening 15 minutes with shots that skimmed the woodwork, was sent off for a foul on Paul Peschisolido, his second bookable offence.
Arca was one of eight players sent off in 11 matches in which Rotherham and Cardiff City finished with nine men. Ticketmaster
Cardiff City, who lost 2-1 at Crystal Palace, had Willie Boland sent off in the 53rd minute and Andy Campbell in injury time, both for violent conduct.
Rotherham's Martin McIntosh and Julian Baudet were dismissed within five minutes of each other near the end of their game at Ipswich Town, the hosts winning 2-1 with two goals from their Spanish striker Pablo Counago, his second a penalty.
Watford's Alec Chamberlain was shown the red card after only 19 minutes at Crewe Alexandra for handling the ball when he was the last line of defence but the visitors won 1-0.
Wimbledon had defender Darren Holloway dismissed in the 27th minute at Preston North End for a professional foul on striker Ricardo Fuller, who scored the home side's goal in a 1-0 win two minutes later, leaving the Dons rooted to the foot of the table.
Millwall's Tim Cahill was sent off for a second bookable offence in injury time but they won 2-1 at home to Coventry.
Burnley's Delroy Facey scored a hat-trick to give his side a 3-1 win over Walsall.