14/01/2012 The Football League Show

D Evening. We were expecting to see all 72 clubs in the NPower football

league in action, that was until MK Dons's game was called off. It did

not go down well with those Carlisle fans who made the 262-mile

journey.Vy been informed they were looked after by the chairman.

Steve Claridge is with me. Here's a taster of what's coming up tonight.

Southampton came through the festive period still top of the

championships. The Saints were on the road to Forest. A team which

needs to start winning and fast. Southampton's heels are West Ham.

Reading are one of the form teams in the championship, the Royals are

up into the play-offs. They look to keep that going against another

side on the up - Watford. And in League One, he swapped one of the

football league success stories for a club which has seen better times.

The Stevenage boss is the man to rescue them from the dull drums.

More on that later. We start tonight with a top of the

championship, which has got more interesting in recent weeks.

Southampton began top of the table, but only on goal difference. The

Saipts needed a win. As for Forest they started in the bottom three.

They were desperate for three They were desperate for three

points to ease their relegation points to ease their relegation

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seven games without a win. Six were defeats. They didn't score in all

Nottingham Forest. That will be a yellow card.

South Hampton defender knows what he's doing here, knows that tug tug

was getting away from it. -- that deflection as the shot was pushed

international, now the first team coach here at the ground. As

passionate off the pitch as he was front.

Cork had plenty of time. He had three options.

Connolly with the third shot and fired in. Nottingham forerest, 0,

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A golden opportunity for Lynch. it away. That shot put a touch on

the way. Davis was able to react.

Connolly who is down. Southampton players surrounding the

referee. Chambers may very well be in

trouble here because the referee, in his right hand, looks to be

holding a red card. It is - a dismissal for the Forest defender.

A straight red. Look at the reaction from the

Forest boss! Here's the challenge again.

There's contact, most certainly. Is there intent? That's what the

referee has to decide. He decided safety off the boot of Moussi.

Could Cork perhaps have struck this Connolly.

The man who was a villain in the eyes of the Forest supporters is

once again a hero in the eyes of the Southampton fans. Has that

sealed all three points for the championship leaders? Harding with

the ball. A touch on, Connolly was That's appreciated by the

Southampton fans behind the goal, for him for Southampton in nearly

150 appearances for the club. The goalkeeper might get a touch to it.

Possibly dus. He could -- does. South Hampton lead by 3-0.

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A chance now for Southampton to goal. They get another corner. Camp

touch on at the near post and Martin, just look on the right of

your picture here, he is thought alone. Southampton so close to goal

It is a tough division. You have to grind out results, you have no

divine right to play good football. You have to work very hard to earn

the right to do it and today we have done it. It is two games

without Rickie Lambert and we won both. We know our performance over

the last few games wasn't the best and we knew that, so we worked very

hard in the training to correct that and today we put a good

shifted. Let's cut straight to the quick. The red card but undoubtedly

changed the game. What was your view of it? From where I am I

haven't got a good view of it. I can't see whether it is or isn't. I

am not hiding behind that. I can't see at the moment. I need a close

look at it. How much did that changed the game, the fact you lost

a key player? I think it was a foul before it. I think there was a foul

on to J. I think there was a push in the back from where they won the

header. I tell you what, for Steve Cotterill's benefit and everyone

else, let's see if there was a foul. foul. However, he might have a case

either way. I don't think it is a sending off. I think he leads with

his arm, he does not through the arm. It is one of those where he

leads there, it is a booking, you have to go up, elevate yourself

with your arm. I think that is what he does. I think we have Connolly

who heads his arm as well so it exacerbates the situation. It is

probably a booking for leaving his your arm and not throwing it.

ended up with a comfortable victim -- victory for Southampton.

Nottingham Forest were not clinical enough. This epitomised the moment

when the ball went the other end. How quickly again can change. You

see here, even though he takes too long, he is hitting it into the

crowd of players rather than putting it into the side where

there are not many players and there is an empty net and of course

they break. They never get composure again. Southampton go

one-year -- nil up and you have a situation where there was a

perfectly good chance, against a side who are good when they get

ahead. They can knock the ball around particularly at ten men,

that is when Southampton started to take command because they will make

the pitch began to start passing Very encouraging for Southampton.

West Ham had to beat Portsmouth at Fratton Park to keep up the

Premier League immediately they will need to start winning again.

They only had two victories in six league games before the visit

Portsmouth but they seem to get back on track here. When there was

a challenge on Winston Reid, there was a penalty. All of Mark Noble's

games this season have come from the spot prior to this game and

this continued the trend, ahead after 24 minutes. After the break

came a key moment. David Norris was too late and too dangerous for the

referee's liking and he sent him off. West Ham looked to make the

most of their numerical advantage and almost scored a second. This

curling effort shaving the woodwork but it did not have -- it did not

matter as West Ham kept pace with Southampton. Doncaster maybe four

points from safety but Cardiff New not to take them lively. Rovers

have lost their last three games at home including a win over

Southampton. It was a lacklustre first half but perked up in the

second. Cardiff had a narrow escape. Marshall was not beaten. Cardiff's

defence was caught out by the free kick and could do little from the

cut back. Oh, could not direct his header on goal. -- O'Connor.

Doncaster will work hard to keep Billy Sharp but he did not add to

his value of goals and even thought he should have had a penalty here.

Cardiff tried it as staged a late smash-and-grab but Whittingham's

shot lacked any real punch. Dean Saunders had to make do with one

point when it should have been We did not go to look today. We

played really well. We had enough chances to win three games and from

start to finish I thought the boys were excellent. We dominated the

together as Darlington fans collected money in order to save

their club from imminent closure. Burnley boss Eddie Howe will

complete here in charge of the Clarets this week and his side took

just six minutes to get the celebrations under way. Rodriguez

grabbing his eight leak goal of the season and his 14 spin all. In the

absence of first-choice goalkeeper Jason still, Middlesbrough handed a

debut to 18-year-old, Ripley, some of steward. He will have better

days as Burnley's Hyypia scored from miles out. -- Hyypia. In the

second half borough could not break down a resolute Burnley defence. --

Berra. Afterwards, Tony Mowbray's reaction was blunt, Eddie house,

humble. Whenever you come to Middlesbrough you have a tough game.

They are the good side. It has been a good day. It is a frustrating day,

we need to put it behind us and be better next week. Nick Barmby's

first match in permanent charges Hull City manager saw his side try

to avoid a 4th league defeat in a row but they needed quick thinking

in the opening minutes from Mannone to prevent the visitors taking an

early lead. It was Sinclair at it again beating Mannone, but not

defender James jester, who timed his challenge to perfection to

clear the danger. But Hull City were not worried and the first goal

arrived after 27 minutes. Koren scored his eight-goal of the season.

Apparently to universal acclaim within the KC Stadium. Peterborough

continued to threaten and they were convinced they should have had a

penalty. There was panic in the Hull City area. There was a

challenge by Mannone. No penalty, only a goal kick. At the other rent

Lyris pulled off a superb double save to keep Peterborough in the

hunt. The game still was not one. After the break Hull City have to

withstand pressure before getting forward themselves in search of a

second goal, which almost came from Kerron Stewart. -- Kerron Stewart.

Peterborough had a lucky escape later on, the shop still stayed out.

Nonetheless, another good day at hunting ground for Blackpool before

this one with struggling Ipswich they have never won in eight

previous visits. Things did not look good for them in this one.

Barely ten minutes on the clock and they were behind. Martin drove in a

cross for Scotland. Martinez glanced the ball into his own net.

Blackpool went into this one looking for a third Championship

win in four but were up against it shortly after the break when

Ipswich scored another. Two up, after the hour. When you are up

against the weakest defence in the Championship you are always in with

a chance of scoring at five minutes later Blackpool pulled one back.

Grandin, three minutes after coming on, with the simplest of tap-ins

and the colour co-ordinated clubs were on. Ten minutes from time the

Ipswich defence was at it again. Grandin picked out Phillips, who

did what he does best, so it was looking like a draw. Or was it?

With full-time approaching Ipswich's Cresswell delivered it

tantalising ball but Martin bundled his lines. At least we got

something out of it. It sounds crazy, too-nil up, ten minutes to

go, you are thinking deja-vu. I am not pleased but at least we got

something. Leeds were at Selhurst Park for their 50th league match

against Crystal Palace and the winner would be their first double

over the Eagles End -- since the 1994-95 season. Any thoughts of a

Leeds win were on hold as Palace got off to a flyer. After six

minutes, Chris Martin got time and space to place his second League

goal of the season past the goalkeeper. Palace had their keeper

to thank for preserving their lead. He kept out a shot and reacted

brilliantly to this low shot. But with half-time approaching Palace

were reduced to ten men. It was a second bookable offence and the 22-

year-old was off. The game but potentially changed. And so it

proved. Leeds went in search of an equaliser and found it courtesy of

an inspiring source, barely two weeks after undergoing surgery on

his appendix, Snodgrass was in the right place to died in McCormack's

cross. Leeds remain in striking An eventful game at Selhurst Park.

We saw two young squads, Burnley and Hull City. Burnley, I saw them

win at West Ham a few weeks ago, now to inflict Middlesbrough's only

second home league defeat of the season, it is a statement of intent.

It is a big result, all of a sudden just outside play-offs. Incredible.

Everybody was wondering when the tide was going to turn -- the tide

was going to turn. It has taken a while. He has had a lot of work to

do. Things start to look as if they are turning up the right time.

Hull City fans may have feared the worst as soon as the full-time

rains were handed to Nick Barmby but he got a great win today and I

suppose that he wanted assurances that he got assurances from the

Allen family and not many clubs can be in that situation. There are

forward looking club. They put in a couple of bids, a couple of

million-pound players, so they are forward-thinking club, they are

financially no rumours, they are in a good state of mind. It is nice to

be able to keep your best players, especially when you are going along

nicely. Let's find out the Championship's

evening game and how it unfolded, where Watford have had a decent

form. Their opponents Reading started the date in a play-off

position on the back of four straight wins in December. Watford

made three changes from their FA Cup win over Bradford. Reading also

made three changes to the starting The first -- the first scare for

nudge on Hunt, perhaps, with Cummings. A good cross. The

defender was unlucky. He would have scored himself but Cummings got

there ahead of the striker and scope -- and scored the goal. It is

the campaign to date. This is why, Great save, Federici. That shot had

bangs of sting behind it. Two league goals so far this

All the space, all the time he wanted there.

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Kebe's second league goal this gone with.

A yellow card shown here to the isn't he?

That is a final warning for Forsyth. get back to your feet, nothing

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In by Harte. finish was superb. Reading with a

smash and grab. It was a very soft goal late on. They got the three

points. We are disappointed. The performance was not what we expect

to they are not what we have been doing lately. I was disappointed to

go 1-0 down. It was a terrific goal to get back to 1-1. It was a

fantastic finish and I thought we were good value for three points.

suppose it was the perfect response to the cup defeat against teenage

It was a goal scorers finish to finish the game. In the Premier

League, I think they would have both got a red card. The Robson

He gets up. He does not get his leg off the ground. The force of the

challenge could be in question. do we not have consistency? We saw

it in the Premiership last week with two similar tackles. You would

have said that both those players would probably have gone in the

Premiership. I do not think it was cast-iron. Certainly they should

both have gone off but they are not the best looking tackles in the

world. Well as for the rest of the Championship, it has been a lean

period for Leicester City with just one league win in six. On Saturday,

they took on an out-of sorts Barnsley. 12 minutes gone and

Barnsley have the lead. That was a lovely run. Drinkwater found Gray.

He just backed off. That was his 5th goal of the season. That was a

long ball. He scored. The Barnsley defence seemed to stand and watch.

One touch and the second touch beat the keeper. Three minutes after

Barnsley took the lead, Leicester are level. Now is the time to kick

off. Just the response Nigel side. Drinkwater again. He is just

waiting. Gray has scored. It is the same combination as for the first

goal. First time with the foot, this time with the head. Leicester

have it all to do it again. Can they hold on to this lead? That was

a good jump. Off the head. Still not clear. Barnsley did not know

too much about this. He thought he had the keeper beaten and he did

but not the goal. That was a good run. This could beat 3-1. Then

shoots. Good save! He worked it score! That was a good save by

Schmeichel. Was he trying to be too clever? Should he have taken it

round? Schmeichel is large but his mood is deeper now and more gloomy.

What a ill-thought on the two goals? Superb. -- what are your

thoughts? I was really pleased for him. To be fair to them, they

deserve to win the game. We caused a lot of problems and we need to

make some changes. Stand by for six goals and two sendings-off. Curtis

Davis scored after 18 minutes was up 1-0 to of Birmingham. Millwall

were reduced to 10 men. The referee took the advice of his assistant.

Larry's face was the picture as he walked the walk of shame. Millwall

were reduced to nine men following a lunge at the giant Serbia him.

Within minutes, they took advantage of superior numbers. In the last

quarter of an hour, Millwall simply collapsed. It ended 3-0 to the

still more Millwall torture to come. King scored his second goal. 5-0.

The Blues, or yellows, were not finished. This was Birmingham's

biggest away win since 1998. The manager is very happy with his eyes

clinical finishing. -- side's. they went down to nine men, it was

a question of can we use the spaces it well enough? And we did. It was

a very merry festive period for Derby. Three successive league wins

put them on top of the form table. The same could not be said for

Coventry. Early on the visitors were better than they Roque bottom

status suggests. In an entertaining first half, both sides created

chances. The Coventry keeper looked lively and kept the scores level.

Derby continue to press after the break. This free kick signalled

their intent. This one was anyone's for the taking. If they scored

today, the Rams would make it 100 goals in competitive matches with

Coventry. Callum bought's neat finish sealed it for the hosts.

Derby are now up to 8. disappointed. We have come here and

given a good account of our service. We missed some good chances. It was

disappointing. They played very well. They were all over us at

times. It is hard on them but we will take the result. Brighton fans

will be hoping their 3-0 thumping of Southampton can reignite their

stuttering season. Bristol City are in league action after losing to

Crawley in the FA Cup. Brighton continued their new year's

goalscoring form into this match. They scored perfectly. Was that the

shape of things to come? Actually that was the first effort on target

for this turgid affair. The action hotted up as half-time approached.

David James was at his very best. Continuing to -- as full-time

approached, the Robins went two behind. In fact, the visitors had

to wait until the final minute for their first and only effort on

target. Brighton and Gus Poyet had back-to-back wins. This is our best

performance for a while. We did not take any risks where we did not

have to. We scored good goals. I am very pleased. Brighten getting back

to back the Quins. A cracking goal that! -- league wins. It is not

just conceding six, it is another game where they have not scored the

goal. Psychologically, that has a tiring effect. They have scored so

few goals this season, can they get back in again? That is the negative

effect on the side for Devaney to rectify that. The manager is quite

active about getting strikers in. It has been a strange old season

for Derby. He was talking about the virtues of a clean sheet. If you

have got the foundation to build from, it certainly, where you are

not conceding goals, you always have the chance of making this. It

took 75 minutes and they got the winning goal. He has his first

choice back four. That is what he wanted. Maybe there are extenuating

circumstances for not getting the results he wants. A good win for

Barnsley. It is the have-nots against the haves. The manager

relishes these challenges. It is very much a case of, he did a

brilliant job at rush tell. Expectations were not that they

would go out and rolled teams over. The same at Derby. He cut his cloth

accordingly. Sometimes you get a bit more latitude because

expectations are as high as that other clubs. He has had a

tremendous time. One win in seven for Nigel Pearson. Different

players were different personnel. The players he had a rich and they

were in his sort of start, the way he managed. -- originally. I am

sure they will start picking up points. Them is too much quality

that at one stage, there was talk of calling him in. By this morning

one of the teams had got their man. one of the teams had got their man.

This man. Over the past couple of years, as Preston have stumbled

through relegation, Graham Westly steered Stevenage into successive

promotions. Believes them three points off the play-off places and

inherits a team who have dropped from second to 13th, with two wins

from their last 20 games. There has from their last 20 games. There has

from their last 20 games. There has from their last 20 games. There has

been a lot of tears this week. The boys have won a lot of medals for

the football club. We have done a lot together. This is a magnificent

football club. It has a great history. It is up to me and the

lads to get together and make sure the future has got some trophies in

it. Tell me, what do you know about Graham Westly. My sources down

south say he was in the long-ball game. Why him? He has a 52% win

rate. He was back to Stevenage in 2008. He does not like losing

football matches, nor do I. We were right. His chairman did not want to

lose him. It is like pulling teeth. That said, a wonderful manager they

did not want to lose. Could this football club get itself into the

Premier League? You have to say that that's an ambition that is not

unrealistic. I think Preston have been disappointed. They've had a

couple of managerial changes in the past two or three years. They used

to be renown for being stable and they would have Billy Davis and

Moyes, fans have been disgruntled with all the changes. Hopefully

he's here for the longer term. believe he's a hard task master.

These boys will have to work. had the players doing double shifts

- will you introduce that here. used to do quadruples. We did a lot

of work. My work ethic will never change. I don't expect the workload

to reduce. That does not scare Two renown defenders who must have

been winging as they took the lead. The new Preston manager was given

plenty to ponder. Graham Westly would have enjoyed

Graham Westly would have enjoyed the set pieces.

Another corner paid dividend 13 minutes into the second half.

Jerus, having been borrowed from Birmingham. Four minutes later

Anthony Stuart shoved Morgan. Preston had the opportunity to make

the lead more comfortable. Parry obliged. The rest of the match

should have been straightforward. Preston made life harder for

themselves. Smith clipped Harris to collect a second booking. So, the

homicide had to see out the final quarter of the match a man light.

They did that successfully enough. The only damage Whickham could

Stephenage for the trip to Rochdale. His first act as player-manager was

to preside over this superb performance. It was not only depart

cheers at the Boro this week. A committed Stevenage showed no

signs of missing their former manager. Their second came from a

long-serving Wilson. Rochdale, are manageless

themselvess,. Beach is looking for cushion. Wilson grabbed his second

of the match. It all proved too much for Widowson.

Moments later he earned himself a second yellow card for this

challenge on Beardsly. Relegation threatened Rochdale. On this

evidence, they will need to find a Carlisle's weekend early, Stevenage

creeped back into the play-off places.

Showing. D A perfect day for you. It was on the cards t lads at

Stevenage would post that result. We worked hard all week. The boys

picked up everything they had done. They put themselves together on

Thursday and Friday. I am delighted for them. They are a smashing bunch.

They will go from strength to strength. No question about that.

Here, it is a lovely way to arrive, get the three points, despite the

sending off, despite going a point down, the lads showed good

character. You will claim this as your first game in charge? That

would be unfair. I said a few words. Graham managed the game. All the

credit to him. All the real work starts for you on Monday? It will

be a big job. It is evident that there are gaps where we're at.

There's work to do. If there was not a job to do, they would not

Is this a good move for Graham then? Yes. On the face of it,

short-term would say, what is he doing.

You weigh up club positions against club sizes? Of course. Short-term

Stevenage are flying. Preston are starting to get a few results of

late. Ultimately I think long-term, Preston are a bigger club. With all

due respect, as I say, over a period of time, you would expect

them to come out. Let's round off the rest of League

One, starting with arguably the game at Hillsborough. The Sheffield

Wednesday played the leaders Day as third placed Sheffield

Wednesday looked to close the gap on Charlton. Plenty to chew on in

the post match analysis. Having survived this scare, a free kick

from Jackson had Powell dreaming of a crucial win on his first

anniversary in charge. His ninth of the campaign proved to be the

different. Wright-Phillips could have made sure. No matter, the lead

is seven points clear of third. Jackson, my skipper came up with

the goods. It was a fantastic piece of skill.

Top quality free kick. He's been missing from our side for a number

of weeks through injury. He's my skipper. He scores from mid-field.

He's done it for us today. Wednesday's loss was United's gain.

The blades put a four-point gap between themselves and their rivals.

The shakers held their own before Cresswell grabbed the opener. 4,000

fans made the trip across the Pennines and witnessed Evan's 13th

goal in 12 games. Second place in League One, cemented, next up for

the Blades is a trip to Charlton. Huddersfield had five players

involved in a car accident after a match on Friday. Close to the end

he clinched a victory which saw the men move up to third. On the end of

fellow sub's Delamarthy's cross. Unknown with just four minutes to

spare. Since Paul's been the manager, they

have always been tight affairs, the games between the two clubs. We had

to stick to the end. It is great to have playersen the bench who can

make contributions like the lads have. The focus match was on Walker,

whose 530th appearance for the club, breaking the record held Biharry

son. Perhaps the landmark occasion could inspire Walsall for a win.

Donaldson did his best to take his share of the headlines.

Nicholls tested the reflexes of Moore.

Walker can celebrate his special day with a clean sheet.

Notts County made a terrific start at Bournemouth.

The home team was back on terms as this shot was parried into the path

of Morgan. If he felt justified milking the

applause for the tap-in, imagine what Hughes might have done if his

eye-catching effort went in at the other end!

The rest went wrong. After the break, more dazzling footwork had

the defenders bewitched. The perfect way for the boss to

celebrate his contract being the last outing. One of the new

faces is Josh Walker. They have made a hapbt of losing

Leeds this season. Woods had a penalty appeal which

was waved away. They thought they had survived a first half scare.

Gilespie was brought down by Nolan. The referee had no alternative.

He took the kick himself. He levelled things before the half

an hour mark. Colchester are unbeaten against

sides in the bottom half. Scunthorpe deserved their point. It

might have been more. Robertson as a bonding exercise. He hoped to

put it to good use by getting to know his players better.

Exeter are proving hard to beat on their own patch.

Scoring goals is a problem for the team, they failed to hit the target

in almost half of their matches. This one looked destined to finish

goalless. Swinney might have pinched it late

on. It proved to be one of those hard to crack. Before half time,

the break through. Moony nipping in the win in seven did not look

likely. He has only been back in Somerset for its six days. The

manager described Joe Edwards as the rot Fila who could marked line

a Messi. The feel-good factor played a part in the defeat of

Tranmere. There was good fortune in dealing with this effort. The 4000

strong crowd turned out for Johnson's homecoming. The crowd was

sent home happy by Andrew Williams. He converted the cross by Ryan

Dixons for a much deserved victory. We will talk about yokel in the

second. It is the first time they have come away with all three

points. 28 minutes to go and 1 up. It is a fantastic finish. We can

associate him with this because we have seen him do it before.

Sheffield Wednesday have not suffered a defeat all season. To be

able to see the game out, that is a real statement. That was a

comprehensive win for Sheffield Wednesday. Another win for them

this time. Eight wins in nine this time. They are keeping up the

pressure. It is turning out to be a great race at the top of the

division. They are at Charlton next week. They have be striker in form.

Someone like that can win a game of football. Ted Evans cost �3 million

from Manchester City. We saw Huddersfield sneak a victory over

Oldham. You have to do all you can as a striker at her despair have to

get the manager noticing you. -- Huddersfield. You have to look

after yourself. He has done his bit. You cannot rely entirely on Jordan

rose to win the games of football. Many congratulations to Jimmy

Walker, the goalkeeper at Walsall. We saw it her. Not bad for a

goalkeeper. -- we saw it there. Good luck to him. And he has a

fantastic record. On to League Two now, which is coming to the boil

nicely as we enter the second half of the season. With just one point

separating the top three, we start with joint leaders Crawley, who

travelled to managerless Bristol Rovers had their first clean sheet

boss this week. A dream start for of Northampton. There was a pre-

match claim it could be a testing trip. Southend hit back just before

the break. That strike looked to be enough to send the teams in to the

interval at all-square. West Brom restored the advantage. They held

on to that lead until midway through the second half. That

emphatic finish squared be game up at 2-2. Michael Jacobs went her --

went close to putting the host in the lead. The Frenchman appeared

for the first time since being sent off in the Cup last month. The home

side switched off again four minutes later. That finished off

the Northampton challenge. They are left propping up the table.

Southend are looking down on everyone else. A second at the

death made the scoreline look convincing. We did not defend the

corner right. We were a bit unlucky in the fact we hit the crossbar.

The goalkeeper made an outstanding save. This is what happens. You

have to deal with it. We would just chasing our tails. In the second

half we have come out and responded well. We had three great chances

before the penalty to get back into it. We thought it was not going to

be our day. Cheltenham prepared for this one with a five-day trip to

the Algarve. Jimmy Spencer looked like he was still reclining. Mark

Yates says the spirit in his cab could not be better. -- Camp.

Mohamed caught the eye at White Hart Lane Foster he settled things

here. They have made it seven wins out of nine. The Rotherham boss was

furious with his side's first-half display against Swindon. Inside 60

seconds they were sitting pretty. Richie got a second. That was

brilliantly taken. The home side were back in contention after the

restart. The double from Ritchie was enough for the Robins. They

edge ever closer to the top three. You have to go back to March last

year to find Shrewsbury's first defeat on home soil. From the

resulting corner, Graham Turner's team ended on top. The gills poss

expected much better. Three minutes from time, they blasted in a second.

Crewe recorded a first ever league when at Oxford. The substitute

struck in the 89th minute. Oxford got their first defeat in seven. A

late arrival of proving inspired for the railway men. He has not met

any lads. He does not know them very well and what we are doing. I

put him on to give us some fresh legs in the middle. He got in on

the end of some which is better. The former Doncaster pass has been

helping Kyle Fletcher cut his teeth in management. -- Doncaster poss.

That strike showed there was plenty of hope for a club that has been in

the bottom two since August. Mick life tough. Once they equalised

with 17 minutes to play, they had the chance to test these strugglers

nerve. Burton slipped to eight third straight defeats. There was

an 89th minute penalty. This game got the go-ahead despite parts of

the pitch being frozen. This headache gave Accrington an idea of

what was coming their way. There are 10 match unbeaten when has seen

them move within touching distance of the play-off places apple stuck

-- places. On the stroke of half- time, Mark Hughes doubled the

advantage. The Accrington boss had no complaints body by not outcome.

This was a big boost for the survival hopes of Bonet. They have

moved five points clear of trouble. -- Bonet. With an FA Cup replay at

Bolton looming come at Macclesfield mines may have been elsewhere at

Torquay. There was a selective loss of concentration. Colin Daniel was

left to reflect upon a change in fortune. Previously only Southend

had won their this season. Mark Ellis was on target. Eight World

daybreak threatened to disrupt their momentum. -- a 12th day break

the stub it is only goal difference that keeps top keep out of the top

seven. You have to be better to beat them. Ricky RavenHill had to

play with his ankle strapped up. They were in front on the hour.

This match was all about that for Nani. Four minutes from time, they

appeared to have a point. -- all about that will stop after the

effort was blocked and got stuck in the mad, they restored the lead.

Just a minute of the regular 90 to go. Morecambe produced a goal that

was the polar opposite. They had who slipped to another defeat

against a backdrop of financial struggle. They took the lead after

half an hour. The Dons were desperate to end their own losing

street. They had three successive losses on the road. They'd squeezed

in the level or four minutes before the interval. Mickey Adams was

happy with his side's display. There would work deny it Louis

darts. He is presiding over his worst run as manager. There was a

protest by the club's board. A fabulous finish clinched maximum

holding one's nerve against fellow strugglers. Hereford can breathe a

little easier having completed a double against Dagenham & Redbridge

will start Michael Spillane could not convert their best Chad --

chance of the first half. Desperate defending prevented another player

getting a share of the spoils. They have breathing space above the

relegation zone. The fans of Southend need no introduction to

the Frenchman. He is never far away from the headlines. He dropped a

fridge on his toes this week. He did not fracture it but scored a

couple of goals in a fantastic comeback against Northampton.

was a brave header. It is fantastic. It is amazing what you can do when

you are playing well. You can get away with a multitude. Lawrie

Sanchez still maintains the game should not have gone ahead at

Accrington. They desperately needed this. If it had not gone ahead,

they would be just two points off relegation. It was a fantastic win.

They have been in good form. They are a decent side at home. It was a

good result for Bonet. The manager was desperate to get a result. He

brought in a club legend. You felt like they had got to the stage

where they had gone as far as they could go. Sometimes you need a

fresh face in the dressing room to reinforce the idea that we are good

enough to be here. That is what he has done. We should mention

Cheltenham who are unbeaten in 10. Right, well let's see take a look

at the latest league tables in the NPower Football League. In League

Two, Southend are back on top for the first time since November.

Cheltenham are level on points with Paul Sturrock's men and Crawley

drop down to third. Swindon and Shrewsbury both had good wins and

pull clear of Oxford and Gillingham who both lost. Plymouth are off the

bottom and are replaced by Northampton. Hereford's win at

Dagenham sees them four points clear of the bottom three, who are

all on 21 points. Barnet also getting that good win at Accrington.

In NPower League One, Charlton bounced back to winning ways after

their FA Cup defeat at Fulham last week with an important win at

Hillsborough. Sheffield United are now four points clear of their city

rivals and Huddersfield's late winner move them above Gary

Megson's side. Stevenage move back in to the play-offs after their

great win at Rochdale. The bottom eight remains unchanged but

Yeovil's late late winner brings them level on points with Walsall

and Scunthorpe. In fact Yeovil are the only side in the bottom half to

win at the weekend. As for the Championship, well Southampton and

West Ham both secured three points on the road and move four points

clear as Cardiff and Middlesbrough both stuttered. Reading, Hull,

Birmingham and Derby all won and there is only three points between

fifth and 11th. It has not been a good day for the sides at the

bottom of the Championship. None of the bottom five could muster a goal

between them and only Doncaster picked up a point. Barnsley were

the only side in the bottom to win on Saturday. Right, before we sign

off, the usual reminder. If you have missed any of tonight's goals,

we are on the red button and on Freeview till midday on Sunday. It

is also of course on the iPlayer all week. But if you are after

extended match highlights, they will be on the BBC Sport website.

Join Colin for Match of the Day 2, as he rounds up the weekend's

Premier League games. That's on at 10pm on BBC2. And on Monday night,

a Football League favourite returns to our screens. Late kick off his

back. Get closer to a team on and off the pitch. Make the managers

and the backroom staff behind the scenes. We bring you the story that

need to be told and tackle the issues that tackle most to you we