The Sky Blues came from behind against Preston at the Ricoh Arena to ensure they kept hold of the top spot.
Patrick Agyemang put North End in front after 16 minutes, but late goals from Dele Adebola and Michael Doyle ensured the manager of the month curse didn't strike Iain Dowie's side.
Watford moved upto second place after ending Ipswich's unbeaten start to the season with a 2-0 success at Vicarage Road.
Bristol City's 1-0 win at Sheffield Wednesday - thanks to an early Brian Wilson strike - was enough to move them upto third, with Scunthorpe fourth after the 3-2 win over Sheffield United.
Wolves dropped out of the automatic promotion places after a goalless draw with Stoke at the Britannia Stadium.
Colchester's impressive start to the season was ended with a 3-2 home loss to Burnley.
Charlton moved closer to the play-off places with a 1-0 win over Crystal Palace in a south London derby.
Robbie Fowler and Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink are still without their first goals for Cardiff, but they were part of the Bludebirds side which claimed a 2-1 win at Norwich.
QPR were sold to Formula One giants Bernie Ecclestone and Flavio Briatore, but life under their new owners started badly as they crashed 3-0 at home to Southampton.
West Brom beat Barnsley 2-0, while Plymouth and Leicester played out a goalless draw.