Championship
• With leaders Huddersfield Town hosting Sheffield Wednesday in Sunday’s Yorkshire derby, relegated Norwich City and Newcastle United both had the chance to climb into the automatic promotion places, and both obliged with comfortable home victories. Wes Hoolahan led the Canaries to top spot, scoring a crafty solo opener and setting up Cameron Jerome for the second in the 3-1 win over Rotherham. Newcastle won by the same score at St James’ Park, Dwight Gayle’s double against Brentford taking his goal tally to nine for the division’s top scorers.
• The game of the day came at Oakwell, with six goals and a sending off as Fulham twice fell behind before rallying to win 4-2. Scott Malone and Chris Martin, scoring his first goal for Fulham after a 20-game goal drought, made the difference as Barnsley’s Josh Scowen saw red in the second half. There was also entertainment on the south coast, as Brighton & Hove Albion failed to keep pace with the leading pack against Preston North End. Glenn Murray’s sixth goal of the season had given the Seagulls the edge, but Simon Makienok struck in stoppage time to salvage a point.
• The second Steve McClaren era at Derby County began with a narrow win, as Johnny Russell scored the only goal against Leeds United. That result, coupled with Wigan Athletic’s goalless draw against Burton Albion, meant that the Steve Bruce era kicked off at teatime with Aston Villa in the bottom three. They held on for a 1-1 draw against Wolves to rise to 20th, but have still won just once all season. Blackburn Rovers, in 23rd place, and Ipswich Town, without a league goal in a month, played out a joyless stalemate at Ewood Park, while in the day’s other game, QPR and Reading drew 1-1 at Loftus Road.
League One
• After failing to win any of their first four fixtures, Sheffield United are unbeaten in eight (winning six and drawing two) after picking off Port Vale at Bramall Lane. Ethan Ebanks-Landell scored two as the Blades moved to within three points of second-placed Bradford City, with a game in hand. The Bantams’ unbeaten start to the season was ended in dramatic fashion at Oxford United, with Chris Maguire grabbing a last-gasp winner. Also leaving it late were Bristol Rovers, with Ellis Harrison’s injury time goal completing their comeback against Gillingham.
• Scunthorpe took advantage of Bradford’s slip to go four points clear at the top with a comeback of their own against MK Dons. Josh Morris had a rare off-day in front of goal, but provided a smart assist for Paddy Madden’s winner, 10 minutes from time. Rochdale prevailed in a heavyweight Lancashire derby, beating Bury 2-0 as the visitors saw Kean Bryan and Jacob Mellis sent off. Also keeping pace in a distinctly northern promotion race are Bolton Wanderers, who saw off struggling Oldham Athletic thanks to two goals from Zach Clough.
• Coventry City remain rock bottom after defeat at The Valley. In a game dominated by porcine protests from both sets of fans, Charlton Athletic won 3-0, late goals from Ademola Lookman and Josh Magennis sealing victory. Shrewsbury Town are still managerless, and still in the bottom four after a painful 3-2 defeat at Walsall. Erhun Oztumer, once of Dulwich Hamlet, scored the late winner after the visitors had twice equalised, while at Roots Hall, Southend earned a useful win over Chesterfield thanks to Adam Thompson’s first-half goal.
• Jak McCourt, Northampton Town’s hero at Scunthorpe last week, became the villain with a red card as the Cobblers lost 3-1 at home to Millwall. Elsewhere, Fleetwood defeated Peterborough 2-0 at Highbury, while AFC Wimbledon maintained their position above MK Dons with a goalless draw against Swindon.
League Two
• Carlisle’s unbeaten record was put to the test by Hartlepool at Brunton Park. The visitors equalised twice after Shaun Miller was sent off – but Michael Raynes ensured all three points for Keith Curle’s team, who are now the only Football League side without a loss. The Cumbrians cut the gap on Plymouth Argyle, who drew with Portsmouth at Home Park in the “dockyard derby” – Connor Smith’s 89th-minute equaliser earning a point for the league leaders. Second-placed Doncaster Rovers also closed on the Pilgrims, Tommy Rowe’s goal on the stroke of half-time proving enough against Colchester.
• Performance of the day surely belonged to Exeter City, the Grecians climbing out of the bottom two with a thumping 4-1 win at Barnet, who replace them in the relegation zone. Leyton Orient and Cambridge both slipped down the table after home defeats to Luton Town and Grimsby Town respectively, while Tom Eaves’ late goal earned Yeovil victory over bottom club Newport County. Promoted Cheltenham Town picked up just their second win of the season, beating Crawley Town 2-1 to improve their chances of staying in the division.
• It’s not easy being a Blackpool fan; their team led at Accrington Stanley with 89 minutes gone, only for Romuald Boco to equalise with a contentious penalty and then score a 94th-minute winner. Tangerines boss Gary Bowyer was less than impressed after the match. In the day’s other games, Stevenage won 2-0 at Morecambe, Mansfield Town and Wycombe Wanderers drew at Field Mill, and Notts County took an 80th-minute lead at home to Crewe Alexandra, only for on-loan Alex Kiwomya to equalise a minute later. It finished 1-1.
