Those who billed Watford as promotion certainties not so long ago are now being made to eat their words after the alarming decline in results at Vicarage Road reached crisis proportions with a derby debacle against Queens Park Rangers.
A run of seven home games without a win is threatening to undermine the Hornets' challenge for the title. The 4-2 margin of defeat at Vicarage Road did flatter Rangers as they only had eight goal attempts to Watford's 23 but the reason for the outcome was simple. Superior quality finishing coupled with individual mistakes and poor defensive organisation.
The loss means Aidy Boothroyd's side trail leaders West Brom by three points, after the Baggies success over Scunthorpe at The Hawthorns.
QPR climb out of the bottom three at the expense of Sheffield Wednesday, who face Hull City on Sunday - a win for the Owls would see Scunthorpe drop back into the relegation zone.
Hungarian central defender Tamas Vasko inflicted more Christmas misery on Burnley boss Owen Coyle, who is still searching for his first home victory in six attempts after a 1-0 loss to Bristol City at Turf Moor.
The only goal of the game arrived after 66 minutes when Vasko got on the end of a Michael McIndoe free kick to claim all three points.
Preston went down to their third home defeat in a row after conceding a second-half double against Cardiff at Deepdale.
Simon Whaley had put the Lilywhite's ahead after just five minutes, but goals from Roger Johnson and Joe Ledley secured a welcome win for the Welsh side.
Neil Warnock returned to Bramall Lane in triumph as Jamie Scowcroft killed off Sheffield United and in-form Crystal Palace generally out-battled Bryan Robson's promotion favourites.
While shouts of 'Robson out' echoed around the stadium, former Blades boss Warnock was applauded off the pitch by the home fans who are fast losing patience with their new manager.
The Palace boss, who left United in May after their relegation from the Premier League, has pulled the London side from the relegation zone to within touching distance of the play-offs after an 11-match unbeaten run .
Plymouth Argyle twice came from behind to deprive former manager Tony Pulis of a victory on his return to Home Park.
However, the Pilgrims will feel desperately disappointed not to have won the game against a Stoke side, who finished with ten men after goalkeeper Russell Hoult was sent off for a cynical professional foul.
Richard Cresswell and Ryan Shawcross netted for the Potters, with Sylvan Ebanks-Black and Krisztian Timar scoring for Argyle.
Former Leicester favourite Patrick McCarthy scored a dramatic last minute equaliser for Charlton against his old side, after a Stephen Clemence strike had looked enough to give the Foxes their first back-to-back home wins since August 2006.
Jamie Cureton earned a point for Norwich against Wolves at Carrow Road, levelling after former Iron striker Andy Keogh had put the visitors ahead.
Bradley Wright-Phillips came off the bench to save Southampton with two goals in ten minutes enough to grab a point against Barnsley at Oakwell.
The home side were cruising to the win despite blowing a string of scoring chances, but came within a whisker of defeat as Southampton finished in style. Sam Togwell had put the Tykes ahead after just 16 seconds, with Jamal Campbell-Ryce doubling their advantage.
Colchester United old boy Scott Vernon returned to haunt his former team and in the process helped Blackpool into the safety of mid-table, scoring both of Blackpool's goals in a 2-0 win at Layer Road.