With the games ticking down until the end of the season, TIBS News provides an EFL review across the Championship, League One and League Two.
Championship
Reading caused a huge shock when they beat promotion-chasing Blackburn 1-0 at the Select Car Leasing Stadium. Josh Laurent scored the only goal of the game 12 minutes before the final whistle as the hosts were good value for their lead. Blackburn fans will be worried about the manner of their performance as they head into the business end of the season, earning just four points from their last five games.
Luton continued their unlikely push into the play-offs with a 3-1 win at Hull, raising themselves to third. Elijah Adebayo, Harry Cornick and James Bree all got their names on the scoresheet before Tom Eaves scored a late consolation for the home side. Luton were predicted to finish mid-table in pres-eason and the Hatters have made sure they took advantage of being underestimated.
Ashton Gate witnessed a dramatic end as West Brom snatched a point from the jaws of defeat at Bristol City. Nahki Wells had put the home team ahead early on before Karlan Grant smashed in a penalty to equalise. Andreas Weimann thought he had won it after scoring with just five minutes left, but Baggies’ substitute Adam Reach found the back of the net with just seconds left on the clock to spark huge celebrations for the away fans.
League One
Shrewsbury stunned league leaders Rotherham with a comprehensive 3-0 win at the AESSEAL Stadium. Rotherham’s Angus MacDonald was sent off minutes after Daniel Udoh had put the visitors ahead and it would only go downhill from there. Elliott Bennett and Ryan Bowman scored late on to secure the points as Rotherham’s gap at the top was reduced to just one point.
Wimbledon’s clash against Cheltenham was the epitome of the saying ‘a game of two halves’ as they fell to a 3-1 defeat away from home. Jack Rudoni’s strike saw them ahead until the 81st minute when Callum wright, George Lloyd and Alfie May scored within 10 minutes of each other to turn the game on its head. The defeat sees Wimbledon fall into the relegation zone as their winless run continues.
Gillingham earned potentially one of the most important 0-0 draws against Sheffield Wednesday at Priestfield. Owls’ keeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell made some excellent saves to keep his play-off chasing side in the game but the Gills smothered the visitors’ attack in an encouraging performance. Gillingham moved out of the relegation zone by a point as their unlikely escape from relegation continues.
League Two
Brandon Thomas-Asante scored a hat-trick as Salford put five past bottom side Scunthorpe. Matt Smith and Stephen Kelly also scored as the Manchester side kept faint hopes of a play-off place alive. Scunthorpe meanwhile lacked quality throughout and look sure to be playing in the National League next season as they sit 10 points from safety.
Swindon missed the opportunity to go third as they fell to a 3-1 defeat at Crawley. Kwesi Appiah’s opener for Crawley was cancelled out by Josh Davison but late goals from Tom Nichols and Isaac Hutchinson secured the win and broke Swindon hearts. Crawley recorded their first win in five games after falling into a poor run of form that ended any outside hopes of a play-off campaign.
Harrogate’s Calum Kavanagh scored his first senior goal to rescue a point at home to Walsall. Conor Wilkinson’s penalty had put the visitors ahead before Kavanagh’s header in the 94th minute sparked scenes of jubilation in the stands. Neither team has anything to play for anymore but the relief of not succumbing to a fourth successive loss was clear to see on the Harrogate fans’ faces.
By Joshua Stewart
