Stoke went to the top of the Nationwide Second Division table on goal difference after the 5-1 thrashing of Wycombe at the Britannia Stadium.

The Potters took advantage of Brighton's Friday night game being frozen off by going in front after 24 minutes through Brynjar Gunnarsson.

Jermaine McSporran levelled but soon after Chris Iwelumo restored the lead the Chairboys had Paul Emblen sent off for violent conduct, the sixth Wycombe player to see red this season.

Gunnarsson scored a second before half-time and Andy Cooke and Marc Goodfellow added the goals which gave Stoke the narrowest of leads at the top.

Brentford were back to winning ways with the 3-0 victory over Wrexham.

Stephen Hunt, Ben Burgess (50) and Ivar Ingimarsson (63) put the Bees on top and the Dragons ended with the worst disciplinary record in the division when Lee Trundle became the sixth Wrexham player to be went off when he received the red card for violent conduct after 68 minutes to go with 41 yellow cards six worse than Wycombe.

Bristol City kept on the heels of the leaders with a 3-0 win at Cambridge, their fourth on the trot.

Lee Peacock claimed two in the first half and transfer-listed Tony Thorpe wrapped it up two minutes from time.

Notts County sank further into trouble after their 13th game without a win, going down 2-1 at home to Bury.

Tranmere won for the third straight game, beating Port Vale 3-1 at Prenton Park.

Jamie Forrester was the Northampton hero at Sixfields where his goal ended a run of seven games without a win for the Cobblers, his 81st-minute strike enough to sink Bournemouth 1-0.

Queen's Park Rangers had Dan Shittu sent off for violent conduct at Chesterfield five minutes from time but managed to hang on for a 3-2 win.

Colchester, one-time leaders, ended a lean run by beating Peterborough 2-1 at Layer Road, a sixth game without a win for Barry Fry's team.

Andy Edwards put the home side in front, Scott McGleish equalised for the Posh inside eight minutes, but Alan White popped up with the winner in the 70th minute.

The battle of the Athletics Oldham and Wigan ended all square at 1-1. Andy Liddell put Oldham in front but David Beharall levelled.