There was plenty of late drama across the Football League this weekend as well as some shocks too. TIBS News provides a review of the key action.
Championship
Bournemouth had a day to forget after losing 2-1 at Preston North End. Jamal Lowe had put them in front but Cameron Archer equalised for the hosts just four minutes later. Emil Riis Jakobsen scored in the 89th minute to snatch the three points which caused Bournemouth’s bench to lose their tempers, seeing Adam Smith and Scott Parker both sent off in the aftermath.
West Brom finally got their first win under Steve Bruce when they returned from Hull with all three points. Karlan Grant scored a brace to hand the Baggies a 2-0 victory and ended a run of six consecutive away defeats. West Brom still find themselves in 13th and six points from the play-offs though, putting their hopes of a return to the Premier League in doubt.
QPR suffered their third loss in their last five games after a 2-1 home reverse to Cardiff. Andre Gray had given the home side the lead with his first goal at Loftus Road this season before Cardiff’s academy products Isaak Davies and Ruben Colwill scored in the space of five minutes to turn the game on its head to make it 2-1. The Welsh side have struggled for form this season but look to be heading on to the right track.
League One
MK Dons produced a stunning comeback to beat league leaders Rotherham 2-1 at the AESSEAL New York Stadium. Rotherham took the lead when Dan Barlaser scored from a penalty after Daniel Harvie fouled Ogbene in the box, earning a straight red card for his troubles. Having to play over an hour with just 10 men, the Dons shocked everyone when Harry Darling snuck in at the back post to head home before Mo Eisa coolly finished past Josh Vickers to keep the visitors in the race for promotion.
Sheffield Wednesday returned from Lincoln with a 3-1 loss as they failed to close down the gap on the teams ahead. Saido Berahino had levelled for the Owls after Chris Maguire had scored for the Imps but goals from Brooke Norton-Cuffy and another from Maguire saw the home team emerge victorious. They benefitted from their relegation rivals all dropping points to go seven points clear of the drop zone too.
Alfie May continued his scoring run with a double against 10-men Doncaster in Cheltenham’s 4-0 win at the Johnny Rocks stadium. Ben Williams and Mattie Pollock added to the scoresheet to make it a miserable affair for Doncaster. The visitors’ evening went from bad to worse when Adam Clayton was sent off just after the half-time break as they remain in the relegation zone.
League Two
Carlisle’s push for safety continued after securing their third win a row in a relegation six-pointer against Oldham. A 94th-minute winner from Morgan Feeney saw the away fans celebrate wildly as Oldham were left to rue their missed chances. Hallam Hope had given Oldham the lead after Davis Keillor-Dunn saw his penalty saved by Mark Howard. Carlisle levelled early in the second half through Omari Patrick before Feeney’s header sealed an invaluable three points.
Swindon snuck into the last play-off place as they needed a 96th-minute penalty from Jack Payne to secure a win over struggling Bradford. Gareth Evans had given the Bantams the lead before Harry McKirdy equalised just minutes later. Ellis Iandolo was fouled deep into stoppage time at the end of the game and Payne held his nerve to send the away fans home happy.
Second-placed Northampton overcame third-placed Tranmere at Sixfields with a thrilling 3-2 win thanks to goals from Fraser Horsfall and a brace from Mitch Pinnock. Kane Hemmings and Josh McPake did their best to rescue something from the game but it was too little too late. Tranmere fell to sixth place as a result of the loss as Sutton, Newport and Mansfield all overtook them.
By Joshua Stewart
