United have 23 points from 22 games, four more than Sheffield Wednesday who occupy the final relegation position.
The Owls scored their first goals since early November as they drew 2-2 with league leaders Newcastle United at Hillsborough.
Luke Varney put Wednesday ahead after 14 minutes, but Kevin Nolan and Shola Ameobi had Newcastle on course for a win.
James O'Connor half-volleyed home an equaliser on the hour mark and only a flying save from Steve Harper to palm Marcus Tudgay's diving header away denied the home side the win.
Luke Moore helped West Bromwich Albion take advantage, helping lead them to a 2-0 win over Peterborough United.
Moore, who scored twice against Posh in Albion's 3-2 win at London Road in August, broke the deadlock at The Hawthorns with a neat 61st-minute strike.
Peterborough defender Ryan Bennett t headed into his own net six minutes later as Albion ground out their first win in four games to move two points clear of Nottingham Forest in second place.
Forest drew 0-0 at Watford to maintain England's last remaining unbeaten away record, but only after a huge slice of luck courtesy of a woeful refereeing decision.
Nicky Shorey clearly stopped Tom Cleverley's late shot with his arm, but Andy D'Urso waved away protests from the Hornets players and the home side missed out on the chance to win the match from the penalty spot.
Cardiff City's promotion hopes were blunted when a late strike by Gary Sawyer sent them to a 1-0 defeat at the hands of the division's bottom club Plymouth Argyle.
Brett Ormerod was Blackpool's hero as desperate Derby County slumped to their second home defeat inside a week.
Ormerod scored one, forced an own goal, and could have hit three more as he led Derby's flat-footed defence a merry dance in the Seasiders' 2-0 win at Pride Park.
Paul Hart claimed his first win as Queens Park Rangers manager. Goals from Mikele Leigertwood and on-loan Arsenal striker Jay Simpson put Rangers in command, and they held on after Nicky Maynard pulled one back for Bristol City.
Clinton Morrison's first goal in 13 games saw Coventry City edge past Doncaster Rovers 1-0 at the Ricoh Arena.
Reading and Swansea City battled out a 1-1 draw in Brian McDermott's first home game as Reading's caretaker manager. Swansea had taken the lead at the Madejski Stadium through Darren Pratley, but Gylfi Sigurdsson levelled for the Royals.
Goals from Michael Morrison and Matty Fryatt gave Leicester City a 2-1 win over Sheffield United in the late game, Henri Camara pulled one back for the Blades.
The game between Preston North End and Barnsley was postponed due to unsafe conditions around Deepdale.