Another bumper weekend of Football League action has taken place – with teams at the top and bottom of all three divisions affected. TIBS News reviews the action.
Championship
Underdogs Luton Town clawed themselves into the play-off places while simultaneously dampening Derby’s hopes of a miraculous escape from relegation as the Hatters emerged 1-0 winners over the Rams. Danny Hylton scored his second goal in as many games to seal the three points and see his side rise above Sheffield United into sixth place.
Barnsley lifted themselves off of the foot of the table with a thrilling 3-2 win over Middlesbrough to put them within six points of safety. A goal from Mads Anderson was followed by a brace from Amine Bassi to put Barnsley in firm control of the match. A late penalty from Andraz Sporar and an own goal from Liam Kitching reduced the deficit to just one but it was too little too late for the visitors.
Stoke City look to be condemned to another season in the Championship after Bournemouth completed a late comeback to win 2-1 at the Vitality Stadium. Tommy Smith had put the Potters ahead before Morgan Fox was shown a straight red following his high challenge on Phillip Billing. The extra man proved crucial as Dominic Solanke equalised late on before Jamal Lowe snatched a win in the 89th minute to keep his side second in the table.
League One
Charlton continued their dismal form as they lost to a hard-working Sheffield Wednesday. First-half goals from George Byers and Callum Paterson were enough to secure a 2-0 win for the Owls who climbed to sixth place and bolstered their hopes of returning to the Championship at the first time of asking. The Addicks have now lost five games in a row and are looking short of ideas as to how to turn their form around.
Doncaster Rovers came from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with relegation rivals AFC Wimbledon at Plough Lane. The home side thought they had secured a huge three points when they went into the break two to the good thanks to Jack Rudoni and Luke McCormick but Doncaster’s Tommy Rowe spoilt their party with two goals in three minutes to ensure that Doncaster remained within sight of safety.
A team that benefitted from the draw between Wimbledon and Doncaster was Gillingham who brought themselves to just three points from safety after they deservedly beat Lincoln 2-0. Former Lincoln striker Vadaine Oliver opened the scoring in the 75th minute after the game looked like it was heading for a draw. Ben Thompson sealed the points in the 91st minute as Lincoln drift closer and closer to the drop zone after losing three games in a row.
League Two
Carlisle United secured their first away victory since January 1 to raise themselves out of the relegation zone. A fifth-minute goal from Omari Patrick saw the Cumbrians take an early lead over Leyton Orient and after Orient’s Theo Archibald was sent off, Carlisle snuffed out any attempts at attacking from the home side and held on to celebrate a long overdue win.
Mark Hughes’ Bradford debut didn’t go to plan as Mansfield comfortably beat them 2-0. Rhys Oates and Matt Longstaff secured the points for the Stags in front of a crowd of 16,797 at Bradford’s Utilita Energy Stadium to put them sixth in the table with two games in hand on the teams around them.
Northampton missed the opportunity to cut the gap to Forest Green after losing 1-0 at Rochdale. Tahvon Campbell scored in the 53rd minute in a game that was largely forgettable but Northampton will be left ruing the dropped points against a team they should, on paper, be beating comfortably as they continue to work on their return to League One.
By Joshua Stewart
