Robert Page has been in caretaker charge of Port Vale since Micky Adams resigned from his position in late September, but celebrated being handed the reins on a permanent basis with a 2-1 win at Colchester United.
Mark Marshall opened the scoring in the 56th minute with a right-footed effort into the bottom-left corner, before Colin Daniel made it a quickfire double four minutes later.
Mauro Milanese also made his bow in the Leyton Orient dugout having made the switch from sporting director to replace Russell Slade this week, but saw his side concede a last-gasp equaliser in a 2-2 draw with Coventry City.
Jim O'Brien's 35th-minute effort put the visitors in front at Brisbane Road, before Scott Cuthbert and Jay Simpson turned the scoreline on its head.
Milanese looked destined to begin his tenure with three points, but O'Brien popped up again in the first minute of stoppage time to deny the Italian a dream start.
Bristol City extended their lead at the summit to five points with a 1-0 home victory over Oldham Athletic - Kieran Agard netting the winner shortly before the hour mark to end the visitors' 13-game unbeaten run.
Steve Cotterill's men benefited from Rochdale's 3-0 win, which ended second-placed Preston North End's eight-match winning streak.
The result sees Rochdale climb to fourth - a point off MK Dons, who came from behind to edge a 2-1 result against fellow high-flyers Swindon Town.
