Stefan Moore's first goal for QPR since December 2005 earned his side a point against the Hornets and eased the pressure on manager John Gregory.
On-loan winger Adam Johnson had put leaders Watford ahead but Moore, on as a second-half substitute, may well have kept Gregory in the Loftus Road hot-seat.
Charlton kept up their impressive start to the season with a workmanlike victory against Leicester at The Valley to claim second place in the table.
Two goals in the first 23 minutes - through Chris Iwelumo and Luke Varney -were enough to give the Addicks the points and their second successive home victory in five days against a Foxes side who never really troubled the Londoners.
West Brom's 3-2 success at Glanford Park saw them move into third, with Bristol City fourth after a 2-2 home draw with Burnley.
New signing Darren Byfield scored two late goals as the Robins held on to the only unbeaten record in the league. A header and a follow-up shot after a save from the ex-Millwall striker looked to have won it for City after they came from behind to lead.
But in stoppage time Clarke Carlisle scrambled an equaliser for Burnley after an Ade Akinbiyi shot had been partly blocked. It was a dramatic finish to a match, which the Clarets had led through Andy Gray's effort.
Francis Jeffers began paying off a chunk of his £700,000 transfer fee as he scored a priceless goal to ease the pressure on Sheffield Wednesday boss Brian Laws, as the Owls beat Yorkshire rivals Hull 1-0 for their first points of the campaign.
Wednesday, who have made the worst start to a season in the club's 140-year history after losing their opening six games, had to soak up plenty of pressure from a Hull side inspired by the multi-talented Jay-Jay Okocha but held on to.
Kevin Foley's first goal for Wolves helped fire Mick McCarthy's side to a badly needed win as nine-man Norwich City found themselves completely outplayed at Molineux.
Right-back Foley, who joined Wolves for £1million from Luton Town last month, struck after 23 minutes and former Scunthorpe striker Andy Keogh's first league goal of the season 12 minutes later sealed their victory.
Tony Pulis had the last laugh over his old club Plymouth as Stoke's second-half fightback was capped by Ricardo Fuller's winner.
Stoke took the lead against the run of play when Liam Lawrence's cross was diverted into his own net by Marcel Seip
The visitors came out bombing again at the start of the second-half and got their reward in the 52nd minute when Seip made amends for his own goal by heading in the leveller.
Rory Fallon put Argle ahead and Stoke were on the rack, but they were back on terms when Lawrence pounced at the far post after Rory Delap's long through.
And the winner arrived when Argyle were caught out by Stephen Wright's ball and Fuller raced clear to lob the on-rushing Luke McCormick.
A stoppage-time goal by Preston's Callum Davidson ensured Cardiff City would not secure their first home victory of the season.
Leading 2-1 thanks to a Robbie Fowler brace in the 28th and 61st minutes, the Bluebrds were pinned back when Preston were awarded a free-kick.
Davidson thumped home his second goal of the game having also netted in the 51st minute.
Martin Devaney earned Barnsley their first away win of the season in sensational style just as Southampton was celebrating a stirring fightback.
Grant McCann put Barnsley ahead with two superbly-struck free-kicks from long distance before Southampton began the process of clawing back the deficit.
They were thrown a lifeline in first-half stoppage time when Marek Saganowski scored. The Saints drew level at the end of the second period, shortly after the board went up saying there was six minutes of time added on.
Stern John burst into the area and crossed from the left and substitute Inigo Idiakez steered the ball into an empty net.
But as Southampton celebrated they were caught with a sucker-punch when Devaney burst clear and drilled a shot against Kelvin Davis. The keeper was unable to hold on and Devaney made absolutely sure from the rebound.
A stunning double strike by former Spurs youngster Mark Yeates denied Blackpool victory despite taking the lead twice against Colchester.
Yeates' second equaliser came just six minutes from time and only a minute after defender Shaun Barker had seemingly put the Seasiders on the road to a hard-earned victory.
Peter Taylor's tenure at Selhurst Park looks like it will last a bit longer after Crystal Palace's best performance of the season in a five-goal thriller against Sheffield United.
A late penalty from midfielder Ben Watson sealed three points for the Eagles in a 3-2 success.
Ipswich proved to be Coventry's bogey team once again as they made it 15 games unbeaten against the Sky Blues, dating back to 1994, in handing the visitors their first away defeat of the season in the evening kick-off.
Spanish striker Pablo Counago, back for a second spell at Portman Road, netted twice while skipper Jason De Vos and Jon Walters were also on target while Coventry at least had the consolation of scoring the goal of the game through Stephen Hughes' screamer.