Conor Whickham scored a hat-trick for Paul Jewell's side who also had a Hird own goal, David Healy and Gareth McAuley on the scoresheet.
Second place Cardiff were denied a home win against Burnley when Steve Thompson netted late on to cancel out Michael Chopra's first half stoppage time goal.
Former Coventry City midfielder Michael Doyle played the whole game as Sheffield United came back to snatch a 1-1 draw against Reading. Long had put the Royals ahead in the 81st minute but Bogdanovic scored from the penalty spot with two minutes left, still leaving Sheffield United looking for their first win under Micky Adams.
Phil Brown's Preston North End led 2-0 at Watford thanks to goals from St Ledger and Clarke but Watford came back in the second half through Whichelow and Thompson to snatch a draw and ensure that the Lillywhites are nine points adrift of fourth from bottom Crystal Palace.
Leon Best scored his fifth goal for Newcastle in a 2-0 Premier League win at Birmingham City
Craig Reid hit a post and played for 72 minutes in Stevenage's 0-0 draw with Oxford United.
Kevin Thornton and Leon McKenzie scored for Northampton Town in a 3-3 draw with Morecambe at Sixfields.