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So the end of another thrilling weekend of EFL action comes to an end with BBC Sport, and in the Championship at least it's the Midlands that is enjoying its spell in the sun.

Wolves lead the pack, Derby tucked in behind and Aston Villa are also ensconced in the mix.

Cardiff come out smiling too, while Sunderland continue to struggle at the foot of the table.

For Forest there was a glimpse of positive times to come under new boss Aitor Karanka - there's plenty of football still to be played. We'll bring you the best of it between now and May.

Don't forget you can find match reports and reaction on the BBC Sport website for every game from the Premier League and EFL. Why not carry on your journey from here with a more considered look at your team's result?

Until next time, goodnight.

Aston Villa winger Robert Snodgrass told Sky Sports:

"When you've got characters in your team you can dig out results, that's what the Championship is about.

"If you don't work hard as a team you won't get promotion in this league, while Scott Hogan worked his socks off and deserved his goal.

"I came here to be in the thick of things, it's a smashing club with a great set of fans. The last few games are the standard it's all about."

Aston Villa striker Scott Hogan told Sky Sports:

"It helps when you've got players of Robert's quality in the team, his quality shows week and week out.

"No doubt it's been a bad 12 months, but now I've got the injuries out the way, I can try to find some form.

"It didn't matter who scored, we deserved to win it and we worked hard."

Forget the disappointment of an FA Cup exit by Peterborough, the Championship is where Aston Villa have invested their energies and have been rewarded with three points at Nottingham Forest.

Forest's spell under Aitor Karanka begins with defeat. Their cup exploits have won them friends and publicity but if they want to join Villa in the mix they need to up their league game.

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Forest have one last chance. Fans urge it into the box. Villa clear...

Forest try to work the ball through the eye of the needle on the edge of the Villa box. It's too predictable and easy to pick off. In frustration the foul is conceded and Villa run down a few more seconds. One minute of the extras to go. They're not making the most of the extra time.

Music to Villa ears.

Villa tick down the clock by hauling off Albert Adomah to send on Neil Taylor. Defensive, is the word for it.

Time is up. But Forest are given a glimmer of hope by the fourth official's LED board. Four extra.

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Alex Neil was content to see his Preston side take a point from their trip to Millwall, especially after falling behind.

Callum Robinson's leveller 10 minutes from time ensured Preston stay two points within reach of the play-offs.

The Lilywhites have lost just once in their past 11 Championship fixtures.

"I think we've certainly done enough to take something away from the game," Neil told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"As the game wore on, if anyone was going to win, I thought it was going to be us. They took a striker off to stiffen things up.

"When you come away from home and they score first, you're always happy to take something from the game.

"A place like The Den is always intimidating and I felt we didn't get our fair share of the officials' decisions today."

Forest find themselves a little flat-footed in the Villa box and a move comes an abrupt end.

Think the home side is tiring. Maybe the emotion of the past seven days is catching up with them.

Villa are on the home strait... goal perhaps?! No - Jack Grealish picks out an offside Albert Adomah and the goal is chalked off. Still 1-0.

Jack Grealish skies a shot from the edge of the Forest box, and Aston Villa pass up the chance to put this game to bed.

Forest then raid the box but the cross is cleared. Reds recycle in midfield... Kieran Dowell unleashes something special from 20 yards. It's moving, swerves before Sam Johnstone's eyes but he beats it clear.

The corner is launched clear of the Villa box. Desperate to hoik it anywhere.

Driving run by Jack Grealish takes Villa deep into Forest territory, Conor Hourihane sweeps it to the left side and Albert Adomah sees his cross blocked.

Scott Hogan departs to be replaced by Keinan Davis.

Seven minutes for Forest to make a difference. Villa on course for three key points.

Albert Adomah saunters languidly toward the penalty area as Villa push forwards, and is caught in his own world by David Vaughan.

Home side breaks down the other end and Ben Brereton puts Barrie McKay into the left side of the box, his low shot from an acute angle is stopped by Sam Johnstone.

Changes rung. Jamie Ward comes on for Forest, as does Liam Bridcutt as Matty Cash and David Vaughan make way.

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Chris Coleman had anything but a memorable return to the scene of some of his greatest achievements as Wales manager in the day's lunchtime kick-off.

He saw his Sunderland side taken apart by Cardiff City in a 4-0 defeat that leaves the Black Cats bottom of the Championship.

Didier Ndong also saw red in a second half to forget.

"It was painful," he admitted. "I can't accept conceding 45 seconds into the second half. We can't make those sorts of mistakes where we are.

"With the sending off, sometimes I've seen them given, sometimes not. But that wasn't why we lost,

"To give them a goal like that, you can't do that, well you can, but we're going to stay where we are. It's bitterly disappointing."

Matt Mills thunders into Jack Grealish, who tumbles like a browning leaf from an oak tree in autumn.

Villa opt for a short free-kick, Forest pack the box to cut down the space. No rush to whack this in, Villa controlling the game.

Until Forest pinch it. And lose it.

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Championship leaders Wolves were held to a goalless draw at Barnsley, but manager Nuno Espirito Santo admitted there were lessons to learn going forward.

The Portuguese felt the result was a sign that there will still be challenges ahead for his promotion-chasing squad.

"If there was going to be a winner it would be Wolves," he said. "We didn't concede anything to Barnsley.

"Teams are trying to adapt their shape to our idea. That was not the case of Barnsley. Paul (Heckingbottom) knows what he's doing. There are a lot of teams adapting, but that makes you grow.

"It's a challenge knowing that you have to find solutions - grow and play better."

Pretty triangles from Forest look to pull Villa out of position but their discipline in shape is very impressive.

Locked in, and hard to break down at the moment.

Armand Traore lumps a cross toward the box and Ahmed Elmohamady blocks with his arms. Handball roars the crowd. James Linington agress. Ironic cheers follow.

Free-kick not converted. Goal-kick to Villa.

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Burton failed to ease their relegation worries as QPR came away from the Pirelli Stadium with all three points in a 3-1 victory.

The Brewers remain a point inside the bottom three and boss Nigel Clough conceded his side got what they deserved.

"We didn't play well enough and QPR deservedly won the game," he told BBC Radio Derby.

"We hung on in there and came in 1-1 at half-time, which we probably didn't deserve, but we were and we should have then gone on and got something from the game.

"But if we keep giving the ball away in certain areas of the pitch like we did today, then any team in the Championship is going to punish you.

"It's not about formations or anything like that - it's just about the players doing better at home than they are at the moment."

This game hasn't been that bad in all fairness, but there haven't been a lot of absolute, copper-bottomed chances.

Forest fans try to rally their team with a roar.

Let's chuck in some reaction.

Rash booking for Matty Cash, who nibbles at Alan Hutton as he fends him off in the chase of the ball.

Villa have this game in their grasp. Forest could easily loosen it with a goal, but to be honest, one isn't coming on this evidence.

Ahmed Elmohamady gets a booking for timewasting, so Villa are in the book too.

That was a chance for Nottingham Forest!

James Chester sloppily dishes up the ball to Barrie McKay like a distracted dinner lady serving sponge pudding and the Forest winger approaches the edge of the box...

His daisycutting effort rolls harmlessly into the hands of Sam Johnstone. Needs more ooomph, as John Torode from Masterchef might say.

Villa boss Steve Bruce isn't best pleased.

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