Sheffield United moved level on points with Burnley at the top of the Championship thanks to a 1-0 win over Huddersfield on Saturday.
Just a week on from playing for Senegal against England in the World Cup last 16, Iliman Ndiaye set up Billy Sharp to score the only goal at Bramall Lane.
Blackburn could have gone into the World Cup break on top of the table had they not been beaten 3-0 by rivals Burnley last month.
But they remain five points off the top in third after they were thrashed 4-1 at home by Preston.
Ched Evans scored twice, while Ben Woodburn and Ben Whiteman also struck for the visitors at Ewood Park.
Preston's fourth win in five matches lifts them up to fifth and within seven points of the automatic promotion places.
"The game plan worked to a tee, stuff we've been working on and credit where credit's due to the group," said Preston boss Ryan Lowe. "They were fantastic."
Burnley can open up an eight-point cushion in the race for a return to the Premier League when Vincent Kompany's men travel to QPR on Sunday.
Norwich bounced back from their poor form before the World Cup with a 1-0 win at Swansea to climb up to fourth.
Teemu Pukki scored the only goal inside the first 60 seconds to secure just the Canaries third win in 11 games.
Millwall missed the chance to move into the playoff places after being held 1-1 by Wigan in Kolo Toure's first game in charge of the Latics.
Stoke and Cardiff also shared the points in a 2-2 draw, as did Blackpool and Birmingham in a 0-0 stalemate.
Reading moved up to eighth thanks to a 1-0 win over Coventry and Bristol City leapfrogged Rotherham into 16th with a 3-1 win at the New York Stadium.