There were big wins for Reading and Birmingham in the Championship, while Sheffield United stumbled in League One and League Two leaders Swindon were shocked at Crewe
| CHAMPIONSHIP |
| BARNSLEY |
0-4 | READING |
IPSWICH |
3-2 | PETERBOROUGH |
| BIRMINGHAM | 3-0 | MIDDLESBROUGH |
LEEDS UNITED |
1-1 | WEST HAM UNITED |
| BLACKPOOL |
3-1 | BRIGHTON |
MILLWALL | 2-3 | SOUTHAMPTON |
| CARDIFF CITY |
0-0 | BURNLEY | PORTSMOUTH |
0-0 | BRISTOL CITY |
| CRYSTAL PALACE |
0-0 | HULL CITY |
WATFORD |
0-0 | COVENTRY CITY |
| DONCASTER | 1-2 | DERBY COUNTY |
Southampton’s Rickie Lambert celebrated being named the Football League Player of the Year by scoring a hat-trick, including two penalties in the last 10 minutes away against a committed Millwall side to retain the Saints’ lead at the top.
A second-half rout, including two Jem Karacan goals, secured a 4-0 win for Reading over Barnsley that sent the Royals three points clear in second, extending the gap despite third-placed West Ham summoning a 90th-minute equaliser at Leeds – who had gone ahead only seven minutes previous.
You can back Reading to win 2-0 away at Peterborough on Tuesday night at 10/1 with Bet365.
The playoff places shifted once again as Birmingham overcame Middlesbrough 3-0 to advance into fourth, two quick strikes before the hour killing off Tony Mowbray’s men, while a Kevin Phillips-inspired Blackpool recovered from an early deficit to see off fellow promotion-chasers Brighton 3-1 and return to the top six.
Hull dropped out but extended their unbeaten run to 11 games with a scoreless stalemate away to Crystal Palace. Another side to draw 0-0 were Cardiff, who lie a point behind the playoffs after failing to beat Burnley.
Outside shots Derby are now seven points from the top six thanks to a 2-1 triumph away at Doncaster, for whom an El-Hadji Diouf goal was not enough to prevent them slipping four away from safety.
Plucky Peterborough twice levelled but were undone at Portman Road by Aaron Cresswell’s deflected 85th-minute effort sealed the points for Ipswich.
The heroics of goalkeeper Joe Murphy earned strugglers Coventry a point away to Watford, whilst neither Portsmouth nor Bristol City could boost their survival hopes at Fratton Park, playing out a goalless draw that keeps the pressure on both.
 |
| LEAGUE ONE |
| BOURNEMOUTH |
1-1 | CARLISLE |
LEYTON ORIENT |
2-0 | BRENTFORD |
| BURY | 1-4 | WYCOMBE |
NOTTS COUNTY |
1-2 | SHEFFIELD WED |
| CHESTERFIELD |
1-1 | MK DONS |
ROCHDALE | 3-2 | OLDHAM |
| COLCHESTER |
1-1 | HUDDERSFIELD | SCUNTHORPE |
1-1 | CHARLTON |
| EXETER CITY | 1-2 | PRESTON |
SHEFFIELD UTD |
1-1 | TRANMERE |
| HARTLEPOOL |
0-0 | STEVENAGE |
YEOVIL TOWN |
2-1 | WALSALL |
Sheffield United failed to close the gap on Charlton at the top of League One after Chris Powell's side drew with Scunthorpe on Saturday.
The Blades remain nine points behind the London outfit after their own 1-1 draw with Tranmere Rovers, but Sheffield Wednesday are now level with their local rivals following a 2-1 victory away against in-form Notts County.
Notts County's defeat allowed Carlisle to move level on points with them in the battle for the final play-off place after their 1-1 draw with Bournemouth.
Stevenage, meanwhile, are one point behind after a goalless draw at Hartlepool, but have two games in hand on Notts County, who occupy sixth place.
MK Dons and Huddersfield were also forced to draws by Chesterfield and Colchester respectively, but remain comfortably in the top six.
Chesterfield are at the foot of the table but just four points from safety after 20th-placed Walsall suffered defeat to Yeovil, while Exeter were beaten by Preston.
Wycombe moved closer to safety with an emphatic 4-1 win over Bury, and Rochdale's 3-2 victory over Oldham - despite a cracker from striker Shefki Kuqi - has blown the relegation battle wide open.
Leyton Orient ensured they would not be dragged closer to the bottom four with a 2-0 victory over Brentford - their first win in six games.
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|
| LEAGUE TWO |
| ACCRINGTON | 2-1 | NORTHAMPTON | CRAWLEY TOWN |
3-2 | PORT VALE |
| ALDERSHOT | 1-1 | BRADFORD CITY |
CREWE |
2-0 | SWINDON |
| BARNET |
0-2 | MORECAMBE |
DAGENHAM & R |
2-0 | MACCLESFIELD |
| BRISTOL ROVERS |
1-0 | AFC WIMBLEDON |
HEREFORD | 2-3 | SOUTHEND |
| BURTON |
1-4 | TORQUAY UNITED |
OXFORD UNITED |
2-1 | ROTHERHAM |
| CHELTENHAM |
0-3 | GILLINGHAM |
PLYMOUTH |
1-0 | SHREWSBURY |
League leaders Swindon suffered a blow as they lost for only the second time in the league this year when they traveled to Alexandra Stadium. Crewe went ahead in the first-half thanks to Nick Powell's fifth in as many games, before Ashley Westwood got the second after the break. Paolo Di Canio's side's lead at the top has been reduced to four points.
Torquay put four past Burton Albion in a comfortable away victory that keeps the pressure on Swindon at the top. Goals from Danny Stevens, Lee Mansell put the visitors ahead. Justin Richards pulled one back but Rene Howe and Taiwo Atieno completed the rout for the Gulls, with Richards also missing a penalty.
Crawley twice came from behind to record a victory over Port Vale that keeps them in a good position in the hunt for promotion. Marc Richards put the visitors ahead, but Sergio Torres hit back ten minutes later. Vale went in-front once more, through Louis Dobbs, despite having Clayton McDonald was sent-off. However two efforts from Gary Alexander secured the win for the home side.
Southend climbed into the automatic promotion places after an entertaining win away at Hereford. The visitors went 1-0 up after two minutes through Neil Harris and then doubled the lead thanks to Elliot Benyon. Yoann Arquin pulled one back from the spot but Ryan Hall extended the lead. Nathan Elder managed a late goal for Hereford but it turned out to be just a consolation.
Rotherham's promotion challenge is slipping away after they lost 2-1 to Oxford, who remain just inside the play-off places. Scott Rendell put United a goal ahead on the stoke of half-time, then Asa Hall got the second. A late penalty from Lewis Grabban found the net but the visitors didn't have enough to salvage a point as they slip to 11th.
Gillingham gave their push for a play-off place a boost after an impressive visit to fellow promotion chasers Cheltenham. Andy Hessenthaler's men had to wait until the second-half for a breakthrough but then a double from Jordan Obita and a late goal from Chris Whelpdale finished off the win.
Paul Wotton scored the only goal in an important 1-0 win for Plymouth at home to Shrewsbury. The win sees the Carl Fletcher's side move out of the drop-zone, while the visitors lose ground in the chase for the automatic promotion spots.
A double from Medy Elito gave bottom of the league Dagenham & Redbridge a vital three points at home to Macclesfield. The win wasn't enough to see the Daggers move from the foot of the table but they are now just a point from safety.
Paul Cook managed his first win as Accrington boss with a 2-1 win over struggling Northampton. The hosts went ahead through Jamie Devitt but Brett Williams pulled the visitors level. A late goal from Craig Linfield sealed the victory for Stanley.
Efforts either side of the break from Kevin Ellison and then Jack Redshaw saw Morecambe take all three points against Barnet, who had a goal disallowed for offside in the first-half.
Wilko Risser netted the only goal of the game to give Aldershot a narrow win over Bradford at the EBB Stadium in a game with few other chances.
An early goal from Mustapha Carayol was enough to take Bristol Rovers above their opponents, Wimbledon, and jump into 14th spot.
