01/03/2014 The Football League Show

Good evening. With several teams facing up to eight games in the next

month, we're now into make or break March in the Sky Bet Football

League. And what a way for Chesterfield to head into their

hectic fixture list after an incredible performance at home to

Cheltenham on Tuesday by scoring four goals in less than seven

minutes. Steve's here to pick out the bones from another busy

afternoon. Here's what's coming up. The race for automatic promotion

could hardly be tighter. Unbeaten at home this season, could

second-placed Burnley put daylight between themselves and the chasing

pack with a win against third placed Derby County? After three defeats in

a row, QPR are suffering a nightmare run at just the wrong time. We'll

find out whether Harry Redknapp's side could stop the rot in today's

early kick-off against Leeds. Wigan started the day just one point off

the play-offs with a game in hand. We've highlights of their match at

fifth-placed Nottingham Forest. And despite the havoc caused by the

recent deluge to their play-off charge, Newport County are still in

with a shout of a second successive promotion. We were in South Wales

for the visit of Scunthorpe United. So to the Championship's game of the

day at Turf Moor. Burnley, in second, took on third-placed Derby.

Despite having one of the smallest squads in the Championship, Sean

Dyche's Clarets have been in the top three for six months now while Steve

McClaren's side began the day just two points behind and in search of a

fourth successive win. Commentary from Alistair Mann. Leicester have

been pulling away at the top and the battle to join them has been

intensifying. The closest meet at Turf Moor as Burnley take on Derby.

Consistency of selection has been the key to success for the host and

Sean Dyche names the same 11. Don't underestimate the contributions of

Arfield. Or the solidity of Shackell. Seeking a fourth clean

sheet in a row, Grant makes his return to Turf Moor since leaving

last summer. One change for the visitors. Dawkins is preferred to

Patrick . -- Bamford. Martin Winsor back. Martin is

perplexed by the decision. -- wins it back. The yellow card comes the

way of Martin. More for that persistent following rather than the

persistent -- specific incident. Dawkins with the header. Trippier

gets it away. Scampering forward. Lovely ball! Good clearance, really

good defending. And another good move is halted by defending. Another

Burnley corner. Thumped away by Wisdom. Trippier. Mee. Faced by

Wisdom. He was surely fouled. The referee says no. Jones on the

volley! Fabulous! To reflect well! Well, David Jones has done it again

with that controlled folly. Ings September with that floating ball.

But there was still plenty to do and, boy, did Jones do it. And the

relentless pressure from Burnley has been awarded. Dawkins. Still with

Dawkins. Towards Martin. He took a tumble in the area. And a dive has

been given. Before the ball goes into the net. And I think Martin is

going. The ball was then swept into the net but the referee had already

blown for assimilation. And Martin, who has already been booked, gets a

second yellow card. Derby are down to ten men. You cannot get much more

dramatic than that. He goes over, the referee says dive, the ball has

been swept into the net but the whistle has gone. Not only is that a

free kick, to Burnley, it is a yellow card for Martin. And he will

go off. He has been a big call. -- made. This was his first booking. It

was for the number of occasions the referee had to stop play but this is

the second. The more you look at that, you more -- the more you think

he has actually been caught by Trippier.

Hughes. Gets beyond Jones. And the deflection almost takes it in. And

Heaton just about hangs on. Heaton just about prevents it from going

in. This is by no means over. This is Dawkins, on target again. Another

question has been asked of Heaton. It is ironic that since going down

to only ten men, they have tested Heaton twice. Through Dawkins and

Zebroski. Wallace. Deflection! 2-0. Marney, doubles the

school and their place in the Championship table. -- score. That

was a decisive blow. A clever corner routine. The shot was deflected.

2-0. Surely, game over? Here is Wisdom. Given away. Ings, Derby

might be in danger of caving in after giving such a huge effort to

get back into this match. Trippier. Away by Oxton. Wallace again.

Trippier. That was wide. It looked like it was going to nestle into the

corner of the net. Vokes thought it would.

I've seen it over and over. There is that little contact, which makes

them slip. But definitely, whether the referee does not see that or

not, that is a slip, it is not diving. For us, it is a penalty. Two

things he has got wrong. It is difficult for the referee. But we

have had decisions over the weeks and months that have gone against

us. Today, 12 of them went against us and was very difficult with ten

men. Sometimes it is toughest when you are against team that have

nothing to lose. They let their midfield roam around and different

players and they kept the back four at home. That can happen but

overall, it is fair to say that we dealt with what we needed to to get

the job done. It has been a calendar years since Burnley last lost there.

Great achievement. Let's talk about that contentious issue and the

sending-off of Chris Martin. Sean said it was accumulative effect.

What do you think? Well, maybe there are infractions of the law. There

was nothing in that. Maybe he has thrown his arm just before that but

nothing major, that is not everything. If you have a big centre

forward with the physical presence, you will get into these battles and

situations. But became alerted effect has to be a foul from a foul,

and it was not. There was maybe one in there. That is a slip, no

contact. You can see, as he lands, on the

side of his foot, he goes over. Nothing he can do about that. That

is a double whammy. Because they actually scored just after that. And

there was the sending-off into the bargain. If you talk about big

moments, did Burnley deserved to win? Possibly. Before someone gives

me great, they were not lucky. There were good value and were big

moments. They went their way. Just before half-time, one controversial

point and one moment of great skill. The opening goal as Mike David

Jones? We had a situation just before this and did not get his head

up, that wonderful position but did not pick anyone out. This time,

great desertion and he picks Ings out. He gets his head up

immediately. Lovely flick. That is a wonderful volley. The goals always

look better when they come from underneath the crossbar. Only one

yard from his line. Very little to aim at. The only position he would

have eaten him with. Wonderful finish and until then, they were

dominant, no doubt about that. Five point lead between second and third?

They are starting to look like Leicester, seven games without

changing the system. People know exactly what they need to do, they

look like Leicester, both top teams. Both teams employ four, four, two.

As for Saturday's early kick-off, after three straight defeats, QPR

were desperate to get their automatic promotion hopes back on

track. For opponents Leeds, it was another chance to keep alive their

play-off ambitions. Harry Redknapp made just one change with Karl Henry

in for Tom Carrol while amongst Brian McDermott's two changes, in

came new loan signing Connor Wickham for Noel Hunt. Here's Dan O Hagan.

Trento. Murphy will take up the attacking charge. He has gone down!

Penalty! Adamant there was deliberate contact. McCormick, he

saves that well! 22 League goals. Not 23 yet. Green has the final say.

McCormack, he has been failed by Traore. This is a real area of

danger to Queens Park Rangers. That was a clear foul. It has been left

for Ross McCormack. And this time he finds the net. 12 yards.

Deflection, yes, which beat Green. The Ross McCormack on the

scoresheet. QPR in trouble, at home, again.

Connor Wickham. Wickham was so determined, would not be shaken off

the ball by Richard Dunne. Under pressure for sure, Harry Redknapp.

Maybe Michael Laudrup being in the frame should QPR disperse with

Harry's services. Fans urging to shot.

On target. First save of the game for Butland in the Leeds goal. Good

connection. . Charlie Austin their top-scorer. The next nearest man is

Matt Phillips on just three. The Rangers season appears to be

unravelling minus Charlie Austin. Here's Doyle. A shot from Jenas

levels the match. A goal at last for QPR.

A little touch on here. Doyle back for Jenas. QPR are back to parity.

They had been poor in the first half. Can they build? Can they go

from here? Morrison for QPR. Morrison, home

debut here. The Traore's shot. QPR nearly make the perfect second-half

start. He has scored two league goals in his whole career. Traore,

they both came at Ipswich. This season. Here's Jenas. The casual,

careless. Could be expensive. Here's Connor Wickham. Connor Wickham's

shot across the face. It's so close from Wickham. Saw the smallest gap,

and nearly found it. McCormack, lovely take here between two QPR

bodies too. McCormack keeps going. Henry comes across. Kebe very late.

Ferocious tackle. Yellow card the outcome. He's been sent off in his

career four times, all for Wolves. His second QPR yellow card though.

Very heavy tackle that on Kebe. Green pushes the ball away. Here is

Connor Wickham. Wickham's shot blocked. Aaron Hughes away this

time. Left off for QPR, big time. Connor Wickham in the thick of

things. It's a good connection. A decent save by Robert Green.

Aaron Hughes, Kevin Doyle. Go the referee gets in the way of it.

Yellow card for the late challenge on Doyle. Coming together. The

referee had his back turned. Not sure how he saw that.

Hughes, Dunne, down here. Well, Clint Hill. The flag was up.

Offside. It won't count. The winning goal is not so. He scored the winner

against Leeds in August at Elland Road here. He's just, just offside.

Good call by the assistant. It doesn't country count. It's not the

winner, Harry. It's not the winner! Everybody worked hard today. With.

We can't give any more. I think we are giving everything we've got.

What we lack at the moment maybe is quality in certain areas. I couldn't

fault the effort today. I still fancy us to get up this year.

Disappointed not to have won the game. It would have been injustice

if we hadn't come away with at least a point, come to Loftus Road and get

a point, before the game you take that. Disappointed we hadn't won it.

It panned out true for form for both sides, didn't it Yeah, it did. I

mean, the way we have seen QPR bits and pieces sort of side for a long

time. Good in areas, not so good change in formation, personnel,

injuries haven't helped them. The players that have come in, they

haven't quite done the job that Harry would have imagined. It's been

one of those, sort of, where they fall in between two stones on many

occasions. Lots of possession today, as they do in most games, created

very little. Fine margins for Leeds much they didn't get the penalty,

got a deflection in terms of the free-kick? That is how it works

itself out. It is a penalty. Dunne brings him down. No debate about the

penalty? No. I think you would say you fancy McCormack in the form he

is in to put that away. Poor penalty by his standards. You get a chance

to rectify yourself. He didn't get his luck there. He does here. You

wouldn't deny him that. He is brave to step up and take the kick after

he missed a penalty. He is a goalscorer. He shows that a miss

won't put him off. At that stage they were good value. No doubt about

that, for 40 minutes, they were certainly the dominant side. For

both sides sides with Leeds off the pitch and the new owners to take

over officially. QPR nine points behind second placed Burnley. It

looks like the play-offs for them? You have to look at it and say, are

they coming into this part of the season in great form? Have they got

a head of steam? They they haven't. Would they catch Burnley, the answer

would be no. They have to consolidate that play-off position

and go into the Lottery of that four-team shoot-out. Yeah As for the

Championship promotion race, there was another crucial match today at

the City Ground as Nottingham Forest met Wigan. Forest fans hoping their

attempts won't be undermined by key injuries, while the Latics seemed to

be timing their rise up the table to perfection. Billy Davies made four

changes, including Jonathan Greening's first start for two years

with Wigan making two, including a start for Forest old boy James

Perch. John Helm describes this one. The game hasn't got going yet. It

might do here. Terrible miss by Cox as well. It took him by surprise. It

certainly took the goalkeeper, Al Habsi, by surprise. Simon Cox should

be celebrating with his ninth goal of the season. Gomez, he can hit

them. He does hit one, left-footed. It must be a goal? It's Waghorn.

Forest 0, Wigan 1. Certainly a massively fortunate deflection

there. Waghorn's not complaining. He has his second goal, as a Wigan

Athletic player. Cuts it back in there. Teed up here

for Paterson! Forest get their goal. It took a lot of finding. His tenth

of the season. Jamie Paterson, 22-year-old Young Player Of the

Season here at Forest much. He has pulled Forest back level when they

needed it. Took a big deflection on the way.

Congested penalty area. Not very far away. Waghorn. It has gone all the

way through. Martyn Waghorn, I think, will claim his second.

Emerson Boyce is getting a pat on his back as well. Wigan regain the

lead. It does look as if Emerson Boyce got the thinnest of touches on

the shot from Waghorn. Well, Boyce doesn't get men. His second of the

season. He obviously saves his goals for Lancashire opposition. His other

goal came against Blackburn, back in October. Waghorn's shot comes back

here. It might be a third. There is! Hit hard, hit low. James MacArthur

stretches Wigan into a two goal advantage here. It was with a

flourish that McCar thur -- McArthur tucked it away. This is Gomes.

Trying to cap his day with a goal. What a goal! Absolute screamer. How

he has deserved that. Jordi Gomez, coming back into the starting

line-up for Wigan today. He was lap languid, took his time, looked up.

Hit it. Ball in the net! What a scoreline. Forest 1, Wigan 4. When

you play that system of one central striker and two advance midfielders,

you need to have midfielders adding goals to the tally. That is, we

emphasised that a lot on I think with 20 attempts today. They had 10.

We had six on target. They had one on target. I think that is the way

we want to play. If somebody had said we were going to lose nine

players and still be in the top six, I would say they are absolutely

delusional. The fact that we are still in the top six we have to be

delighted. Powell returned to his old stomping ground, back-to-back

wince and a chance to reach Wembley in the Cup put the smile back on his

face. The leaders hit the front early. Nugent found Vardy who gave

Leicester a ninth minute lead. The odds on a comeback looked unlikely.

Charlton may have gone to the break all square. Church nipped in between

two only for Schmeichel to see off the danger. One goal separated them

at the break. The Foxes had more gears to get through. The this cross

almost flicked in by Nugent. Drinkwater did the mopping up.

Leicester on track to extend their unbeaten run in the league to 14

matches. They are 13 points clear of third placed Derby. Nugent wrapped

things up with an enfatic finish. Schurrle, nothing can stop them now.

I thought we were very, very cover comfortable in the end. I think, all

in all, an all round quality performance. I'm quite happy

standing here with 3-0. Because, basically, the chances they created,

the saves my keeper made, it's very, very good side, Nigel has got

together. You know, possibly we are being looking at the side that

should be champions of the league. After two straight home defeats

Israeleding were desperate to improve their form. They would never

get a better opportunity to than this. Yeovil lost five of their last

six away from home. The Glovers took the lead thanks to Duffy's header.

Only once have Reading turned a deficit into a win this season. Once

again, the Royals were struggling to make an impact. That was until

Webster brought down the player. Webster had to go. Some fans say

that particular rule is an unnecessary double punishment. Not

in this case. Stech saved this spot-kick. Reading response was

immediate. Lundstram had the most comical of own-goals. After that,

things really began to unravel for the away side. Two inminutes later,

they were areduced to nine-men. Ralls with a challenge on McCleary.

The referee Scott Mathieson, once again, left with little alternative

but to issue the red card. There was 20 minutes of normal-time remaining

at that point. Reading couldn't find a way past Stech. He saved from

Pogrebnyak. Yeovil held on for a draw, despite injury-time and a

third red card. The Glovers became the second Championship team this

season to have three sent off in one match. The last were Blackpool,

against Yeovil back in December. Any complaints with the sendings

off? I don't think so. I haven't seen them, but two of them were

mistimed tackles, overzealous in their infusions and to stay in the

game and the first one was my centre half misjudging the bounce of the

ball and the substitute got a toe to it and obviously, he clipped him and

he went down. At this moment, I haven't and I wouldn't have done if

we had lost 2-1. To keep tabs on the top six,

Brighton needed to outwit the manager who got the better of them

in last year's play-off semifinals. Ian Holloway's horizons are

different this year, with Millwall perched perilously above the bottom

three. Albion have been overreliant on the Argentinian's goals and they

have Jesse Lingard can help them out. He was bumped by Danny Shittu

and the home fans were sent apoplectic by the penalty decision.

David Lopez refused to be distracted by the fuzz. It was enough to clinch

the match. The sixth successive Brighton win to finish 1-0. When

Jermaine Easter found space in the box, Albion got lucky, to increase

Holloway's sense of injustice. Referees do not mean to be biased,

they are not ever biased, but when they come to Millwall, they put a

protection thing on and say they are going to have to be strong at this

passionate love so I am fair to the opposition. Millwall's worrying form

continues, Brighton stay in the play-off places.

Nestor seeming to -- Leicester City seven to get away at the top but a

real statement from Wigan. A couple of bad results that Nottingham

Forest have had have conceded with the result, they have ate out, but

they still have a deep squad and the quality team -- they have 8. I keep

looking at the Wigan team though and they have a very strong team. How

much of a surprise was it? I don't smoke. They have players who can

cope at this level, Maynard, James McLean, they can all have an

impact. Jordi Gomez doing what he did in the League Cup last year at

the City Ground, when they also won 4-1. What a game at Reading, three

red cards for Yeovil and a comical own goal but they still picked up a

creditable point in the process. What about those dismissals? The

first one, by Ron Webster, I have no idea why he he is sent. He doesn't

even know that the player behind him. How he can send him off I don't

know? That is a horrible challenge, a coward's challenge. He has tried

to hurt the player. This is just mistimed. So the referee gets two

out of three right. But the first one has a massive impact and in and

around the incident, they did concede. So Gary Johnson has three

suspensions on the horizon. I think the first one, he will appeal

against, by Ron Webster is a big part of their side and he knows now,

like he already knew, they have five and character and they get a point

out of a game that was very difficult for them. Is time to

render the rest of the Championship, starting with the East Lancashire

derby between Bolton and Blackburn. Gary Bowyer's side starting the day

four points off the play-off places with a game in hand. It is often

said derby games are levellers, which could only be good news for

Dougie Freedman's Bolton. Last week's win halted a run of nine

league games without one. Mark Davis tried his luck early on.

Kilcullen came to Blackburn's rescue. Jordan Rhodes is going

through a dry spell at a critical stage of the season. Still without a

goal since New Year's Day. Blackburn may have been feeling the absence of

their captain Grant Hanley. First blood to Bolton midway through the

first half. Joe Mason scored for the second week running after recently

returning on loan from Cardiff. Gary Bowyer's half-time team talk needed

to be a big one but just two minutes after the restart, Jay Spearing put

the result beyond any doubt. He shot crossed the line but it took the

official seven seconds to arrive at the decision. But at least they got

there in the end. That put Bolton on course for back-to-back home wins

this season. And having lost the reverse exchange for-1, Moritz gave

backbone a taste of their own medicine, their biggest result of

their rivals for 86 years. That was for the fans, it has been a

difficult season and the fans have stuck buyers. The players have been

strong in certain games so that was for the fans. That was out of

character, because we have kept 12 clean sheets this season and in a

local derby coming hugely disappointing for us and the

supporters. Before this game, Mick McCarthy was

unapologetic about the lack of sexy football at Ipswich and there wasn't

much to get the Portman Road punters going here either. Novak had an

early effort from Birmingham. Lee Clark would describe his team as

toothless. Rarely sexy in anybody's book. From Frank Nouble's perfect

delivery, Daryl Murphy bundled in the only goal of the game. In the

second half, the cloud accurate elite crowd were briefly roused by

Jonathan Specter's bad back fax and his elite pass. An important win but

not the prettiest. -- bad backpass. At times, there wasn't a lot of

quality but second half, we were better and created some chances. The

clean sheet is great, 1-0 suits me fine. The lads worked really hard

from a defensive point of view but our quality when we had possession

of the ball left a lot to be desired.

Blackpool's slide down the standings continues. Mattias Ranegie will

rarely be presented with an easier chance, unmarked as he headed his

first goal for Watford before Troy Deeney rammed home the message that

this would be another depressing day for the Seasiders. Blackpool have

gone three full months without a win, 16 matches and they have

dropped from fourth then to 19. McKenzie gifted possession to

Watford, allowing Battocchio to set up Ranegie per second. Watford may

yet set up a launch for the play-offs. The team in free-form

incurring the wrath of the boss. I am hurting. It is not acceptable,

that sort of performance. I set standards and they fell way below

those standards today which I expected for them. At the last week

at Bolton, the manager was keen to stress that that win was for the

fans who travelled to Bolton because it wasn't such a good day last week.

What you are about to see at Hillsborough perhaps highlights the

need for goal-line technology outside the Premier League. Aitor

Karanka's Middlesbrough arrived in South Yorkshire without a goal in

over ten hours of football, although the drought should have been over 11

minutes in. Butterfield hitting both posts before it crossed the line.

Everyone in the ground saw it apart from the man who really mattered.

Even Chris Kirkland, the Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper, admitted

afterwards that it was miles over. But it is of little comfort for a

Middlesbrough side whose season appears to be petering out. Danny

Graham should have given the travelling fans something to cheer.

But neither he nor Kamara could manage it. Wednesday were decent

value and when Sam Hutchinson's cross arrived at the feet of Leon

Best, the shot was blocked by the hand of Dean Whitehead. No problem

with the officials' eyesight this time. With the Boro manager steaming

on the sidelines, Wednesday had the chance to wipe away the

disappointment of missing out on an FA Cup quarterfinal. This was a real

kick in the teeth for the Seasiders. Mayor with the goal. He did not see

our goal, the goal goes in, off the post, but he could see the penalty.

It was nice to get the win and the three point that I think we

deserved. Another Yorkshire derby at the John

Smith's Stadium and one that could have turned out differently, had

Alex Smith is not made this great save. -- Alex Smithies. The game

changed with two Huddersfield goals. Southern knocking in Nakhi

Wells shot in the opener. Nakhi Wells then made the second, timing

his run perfectly before teeing up Danny Ward for his seventh goal of

the season. Wells may not have got on the scoresheet himself but he was

undoubtedly the star man here. Luke Steele denying the striker a

first-half goal of his own. Instead, he had to settle for the role of

goal maker. His third assist of the match came just after half-time.

Rolling it into the path of Adam Hammill, who enjoyed the kindest of

revamps. A prolific scorer with Bradford, Nakhi Wells hasn't found

the net in eight matches. When he was brought down for the penalty,

the Bermudan international wanted to take the spot kick himself. But Adam

Clayton was remorseless, despatching the 58th minute penalty for a 4-0

lead. There was more punishment for Barnsley before the end. Substitute

Sean Scannell helping himself to the pick of the five goals. Not bad for

a team who had managed only one in their previous four home games. For

30 minutes, I was more than pleased with how we were playing, great

energy, creating chances, getting on the ball well and then the two

quickfire goals basically put us to bed.

Bournemouth knew that beating Doncaster would be a sizeable stride

towards guaranteed safety. The cherries have won just once in their

last nine but rediscovered that winning feeling when it matters or

sub Yann Kermorgant's first goal for the club when it mattered. He has

been eased in off the bench and with a towering header, the Frenchman

made the point he is ready to be more involved. The Rovers fans were

having more fun than the 5,000 who pitched up to see Lewis Tomlinson --

Louis Tomlinson make his debut for the reserves in the midweek.

Kermorgant's final game for Charlton was a defeat against Rovers. This

time, he left with the match ball, demonstrating the aerial prowess it

was hoped he would bring to the team. The Doncaster defending

continued to be dismal. Harry Arter making it Bournemouth's second five

goal haul of the campaign. They should have broken ground with a

sixth. In stoppage time, the rovers backline was unlocked and Mark Pugh

teared up ranting. -- teed up. We have sometimes not had that cutting

edge and decision but today it all came right and a good defensive

performance as well as the goals. It was one I didn't see coming but in

the long run, it might not be a bad thing. I have been speaking about

how good we have been and how we might stay up and this has maybe

made a few realise we are in a relegation scrap. Their best ever

result, Bournemouth, in the second tier of English football but an

awful afternoon for three of the bottom six in the Championship,

conceding 19 goals between them and not scoring one. Barnsley had for

five by Huddersfield, Nakhi Wells with four assists, good afternoon

without scoring. Four teams like Barnsley, they can't rest too long

on their laurels or dwell on results like this at this stage of the

season. Certainly not after a performance that, that was poor.

Huddersfield are on form, we know they can have side but the only

redeeming feature for those sides at the bottom, is nobody one. Yeovil

are the only ones who picked up a point. Everyone around them is

giving them a chance. So you don't have to dwell, even if you got a

hammering. Including Blackpool, no one in 17 games in all

competitions. They have an 8-point cushion and you get the feeling they

might need it. This incident is incredible. Gary McKenzie gives the

ball away here. Look at his reaction to getting the ball back. No effort

at all. He gives up. It is the 39th minute, it is not like it is the

85th minute and you fall down, you are still in the game. If that is

indicative of the way they are playing and how they feel, the

effort and the response the manager is getting, they have big problems.

the boardroom house to think about the managerial situation. Barry

Ferguson is registered as a player manager. He says he needs to look in

a mirror and say, can I really do this job? People tell me I can but

you need to ask them, the players. It is a very tough job. There is no

way that players will be walking through his side if he was in that

team because we know the way he plays but he has taken himself out

of the side. He is a player manager, you have come out of that playing

arena, you have not been scouting, so you are watching and starting

from scratch. It is a very tired budget but whether that will work

until the end of the season, on those results, I am not sure. Leyton

Orient returned to the top on goal difference. Today's match with cold

Chester. -- will just. -- Colchester. It was a fine response

to those who thought we were running out of steam. Colchester did not

fold and their keeper was kept busy. Before Marcus team find a way to

squeeze them back. -- Bean founf. But promotion campaigns are built on

a sort of let winners like this. They are kept on course. It was a

hard game, really tough, local derby, the second half was played in

that fashion. I thought we were the better side but to be fair to

Colchester, they put us under enormous pressure and they deserve

that equaliser and to get fantastic finish to win that much. -- it took

a fantastic finish. The best winning run from Wolves in five seasons. The

captain was not far away from scoring his first goal for the club

when he met a cross from Henry. The opener came shortly after half-time.

He was aided by a hefty deflection. The Frenchman demonstrated his

skills with two goals in as many minutes to condemn the field their

second League loss. -- Vale. He tripped his way through before

burying his fifth goal in four matches at Molyneux. The 21-year-old

had a glorious chance to score his first hat-trick in English with all

later on, after Henry was too tricky for Chris lines to deal with. He got

his hand on the ball to deny the chance to take it home but we'll is

already had enough goals on the board by then to move to the top of

the table. I thought we played well in the first half of that working

the goalkeeper and hitting the target. I felt that they had a

charmed life and we put balls into the box. Sam Ricketts hit the bar

and there was some excellent defending. I was disappointed with

the second half for months, the game changed and that deflected first

goal. I was delighted with the first-half. Either because to

problems. Frustrating times for Brentford, we have not slept out of

the top two. They had to make do with the point from their trip.

Pitchford played his part. Graham Kavanagh's team remain too close to

relegation for comfort. No way through on this occasion. Just win

in four games for Brentford. At the end of an emotional week for

Preston, a gift from Walsall. This back pass catching Richard O'Donnell

off-guard to hand the home side a third minute lead. It was a

nightmare start for the Saddlers. Almost immediately, they were back

on terms with Tom Clark pounced upon. His first effort was too hot

to handle. He made sure his second would not be stopped. Preston cannot

be too far from making a play-off place. Wright restored the lead just

shy of half an hour. By the finish they were hanging on as Walsall

looked for a way back. The ten men went broke, James Baxendale at the

Preston back line before bringing out the best in Declan rogue. It was

a big win for the team. It was a tight game, Walsall or a very good

foot Bolling team and we had a perfect start. We gave him the

opportunity to come back. At this stage it is about winning games.

Rather have been outstanding since the turn of the year, helped by the

astute use of the loan market. James Taverner was quick to show his

quality. Another graduate of the Academy quickly made it 2-0,

although he needed a large slice of luck to do that. The Notts County

manager believes his players are facing the most important two months

of their career but some clearly have not grasped the gravity of the

situation. It got worse before half an hour had been played as Gareth

Roberts hesitated long enough to be tumbled for the penalty. Which he

scored himself to make it 4-0. County fans who did not make the

early - for the M1 saw their team alone another strike through. And

more pitiful defending allowed yet another lonely to round off the

biggest win for Rotherham at the New York Stadium. Steve Evans is

determined to keep fit on the ground. We will get carried away,

this is tough, a lot of people are still dying but we will give it

everything we can and we will get it in a couple of games and suchlike

but we will keep on a very level keel on the training ground. When,

lose or draw. It was home sweet home for Crawley in their first match

back on their own patch since the start of January following five as

governments because of the state of the pitch. -- laments. -- must

moments. -- postponements. There was another example of why the Reds boss

wants to sign him permanently. This defeat ending a five match unbeaten

run for Peterboro, Conor Washington was inches away from snatching the

points in stoppage time. Matt is certainly enjoying himself

at Crawley. He was almost in and out for a couple of years but back at

Crawley and doing well. Yes, he needed this. Sometimes if the shoe

fits... That is the case with some players. Another big winner was

Rotherham. The biggest win of the day, unbeaten in nine games. Two

goals from man who has been left blooming on the sidelines. Harris

gets a brace and it was a good one. That was a decent play. Similar to

what we saw here. A couple of deflections but he waited long

enough to get in there. He goes to the bench. That was a hammer blow

for Notts County? It is, it seems like only a couple of weeks ago we

said they were out of relegation and they have that question and all of a

sudden, they have had rock bottom. Yes, something has to turn quickly

in a positive sense or they will be relegated. John Davies said it was

the lowest point of his career. Wolves are the top of the division,

3-0 winners. They have won seven out of seven games. I be there to stay?

On that evidence, what you get with a club like Wolves in the division,

it is the same thing, getting 25,000 people. You either fear that what

you relish it. The other thing is, if you get on a roll and have 25,000

people behind you, people say Wolves are a difficult crowd, that is

rubbish, they are a fantastic club. They are passionate people. They see

the club doing well and the team working for that shirt and they will

get behind you. Once you get on a roll at a club like that, it is

fantastic. We will move on. Swindon mistyped on touching distance of the

play-offs. Next up for Mark Webber were crew. Another side threatened

with relegation. For crew it is all about survival. They could ill

afford another setback at home and things were going to plan when this

cross was handled. The resulting penalty went horribly wrong. Swindon

have a different agenda, top six place inside. Crewe struggled to

contain them and Harley was on hand to finish off the move with a

perfect start to the second half. Keen to make offer his earlier

error, you was unlikely -- unlucky not to equalise. They were finally

rewarded when Oliver came off the bench with devastating effect.

Another goal of the highest quality. In the space of one week, Sheffield

United have jumped from the bottom for two mid table. Aiming for a

seventh straight win. The quarterfinalists were in front

halfway through the first half. Baxter went close to doubling the

lead after the restart. Post match, Nigel Clough hailed this as their

best win of the season. His side were barely troubled. The dons lost

more ground at the top six. Bradford's wording slide was halted

by back-to-back victories recently and Middlesbrough put them on their

way again. His first goal was well worth waiting for. But Stevenage are

beginning to show some signs of life just in time. Tuesday 's matchwinner

against Crewe pipped his way through to make it 1-1. Bradford were ahead

again before half time and again, the power was packed into the left

foot. But this time the Parry fell nicely for James Hansen. The second

half belonged to look Freeman. With other options limited, he took on

the responsibility himself and then dotted this beauty. And with three

minutes to play, he went for power. To cap a performance manager reckons

put ?5 million on his price tag. The more immediate family was three

points for Stevenage and although Mark Yates almost rescued Bradford,

they are off the bottom. After the heavy defeat at Sheffield United,

Bristol City bars made five changes and did the trick in a first half

showing. But the Robins came into the match with just two clean sheets

in the League all season. The lowest total in the division. Charlie Lee

converted this clever flick. The side managed to edge and head again

and claim their seventh League win of the season thanks to this

wonderful strike from Simon Gillett. It was as beautiful as it was classy

as a left City out of the relegation zone. Tranmere were chasing

back-to-back victories and they have not achieved that all season. Oldham

made the task even more difficult. Rovers had more than a touch of good

fortune with the equaliser. Visiting keeper Mark Ochs led... This effort

was deflected off Jonathan Brown. The logic so back in front, having a

moment to forget for the home defence as the cross was turned into

his own net. Ryan Lowe 's board the winner the last time the teams met

and he provided another important contribution. Tranmere have been

hugely reliant on him. Tranmere getting themselves a point and it is

good, considering all that is going on off the pitch at the minute.

Great result for Stevenage, Graham Westley says his team always comes

stronger in the last two months of the season. A couple of crackers

from Freeman? Marvellous strike. It always looks better with the left

foot. It always looks more stylish. This is wonderful again. The young

man has come from Arsenal. It is not easy, from a club at that level

going into the foot volley but he has adapted readily. Sheffield

United, won seven in a row in all competitions. Shot up from second

bottom to 12th. They are looking upwards? Brilliant. We know the

start they had. Horrendous start. Everyone thinks it was an upward

curve as soon as Nigel claim. It wasn't. Their late form was poor. I

saw them at Fulham. Wonderful run of form. They will be kicking

themselves that you have to make 11 points up. Can't be talking about

the play-offs? Probably not. If you had started maybe a little bit

before, they certainly would be one eye on that. They still have the

Cup. Who says the Cup does you any harm. It hasn't done them any harm.

Almost gone back to basics as well. To League Two then and, despite

losing their last two games, Newport County were still in the hunt for a

second successive promotion having endured 25 years outside of the

Football League. Clem takes up the story as Scunthorpe arrived at

Rodney parade. 1988, the end of a rare season in which Cardiff City,

Swansea City and Newport County had all rubbed shoulders in the same

division and for people in this part of South Waleslet cull bin nation of

an incredible decade. It the boasted a John Aldridge in their line-up,

Newport County went from winning the Welsh Cup the Cup Winners Cup to

double relegation. The termination of their football league stay and

into the clutches of liquidators. Not only were you Cardiff and

Swansea's equals, at one stage you were top dogs in south Wales.

Through the late 80s we were. One league apart. You never know.

Rivalry, certainly for people around here. It will always be there. I

want to take you back a quarter of a century. When you tumbled out of the

League. Can't get much Grimmer than that, can it? Don't look at the

past. We need to look at the future. Did you lose faith you would get

back into the Football League is? You can't. If you are going to lose

faith, don't come. When Newport County made it back into the

Football League this season, it was with a Spurs FA Cup winner as their

manager. A EuroMillions Lottery winner as their Chairman. After a

nomadic trek around five different grounds, the latest they share with

the city's two rugby clubs. Six postponements out of seven at one

stage. Difficult not to talk to you about that pitch? No, it certainly

cost us. You have seen the state of it yourself. The it's becoming a

little bit of an issue. One we have to overcome. Does the fact that you

have a EuroMillions winner kind of mask the full picture of this

football club? People have a false impression of Les. Obviously, he has

supported us when necessary. It's not an open cheque book. The we are

working under the same constraints as most League Two clubs. We have to

keep po us canned. We can't lose sight of how hard and how long it

took us to get back here. I'm certainly enjoying it. I know the

players are. I've been lucky enough to play for some fantastic managers,

fantastic football clubs, hopefully my players can say the same about me

when they talk maybe on the camera in a few years' time.

Ryan Burge could have two. Slocombe denied him. He was grateful toll see

him get under another opportunity. As a former central defender,

Scunthorpe manager won't have been impressed by the defending which awe

loud Minshull to put their run in peril. It took them until the

second-half to finally click. Williams made light of the over used

playing surface before Nolan picked out Paddy Madden. 17-year-old

Adelakun came on. They then got on the end of this cross. Scunthorpe

must have thought they did enough when Slocombe kept out Minshull as

the came ticked into added time. This corner caused more chaos. Among

the bodies, Zebroski denied his men a place at the top of the table.

Disappointment or relief? I think relief in the end. We make it hard

here at Rugby Parade. Obviously, to stop them defeats and get that late

goal, hopefully, it will give us the boost we needed. Can you put your

finger on why you have gone awry over the last week? One or two

things. Obviously, a lot of injuries this year catching up with us.

Anyone who knows in football, confidence is key. Hopefully we

might re-Kindle that after that result today. Doing a fine job

considering all that has gone on against himle he lost his star

defender for the best part of the season. Players out injured and the

postponements, five in all. How do you assess the work he has done? He

has done a really good job. You see why people are after his surfaceses.

He got them up. They exceeded expectation. They have had games in

hand. They haven't won those games. No they need to turn them into wins.

If we win them, we will go into the play-offs. Easier said than done.

First season back in the Football League. They have done well.

Considering where they are in the table. Seven points off the

play-offs with three games in hand. Do they have a chance They have got

a chance, no doubt. As he said, they will have to re-Kindle the

confidence they had early on in the season. A little bit of form they

lost. The games in hand don't always mean you will win them. No. They had

six games in hand at one stage. They did. They have come down the table,

rather than go up it. He knows what needs to be done. Whether they are

capable of doing that remains to be seen. More from League Two now and

it was third verses fourth at Spotland on Saturday. All to play

for with just two points dividing Rochdale and Oxford Utd. Still in

the wide-awake club there was an excellent hat-trick to enjoy at

Rochdale. Timmy Mallet may not have enjoyed it much. The Oxford fans saw

this chance going begging. Wright was almost forced into an own-goal.

If that was a powerful header, the run he came up with after the break

was anything but routine. Once Hogan set his sights on his 16th league

goal of the season, he refused to be stopped. It was just three weeks

since the striker collected a match-ball against Wimbledon, soon

he would have another. Cementing his club's place in the automatic

promotion spot in the process. Rochdale will face all of the

current four in consecutive matches. A lack of goals has hindered

Burton's promotion hopes recently. However, despite this early miss

from Kee, this was a better day for him and the Brewers. Kee's opening

goal against Accrington was his 11th season. Crucially, only his second

in 2014. Burton had scored more than one goal in only two of their

previous 20 league games. When Winnard levelled for Accrington,

Albion look set for another 1-1 draw. Winnard undid all his good

work. He grappled with Phil Edwards at this corner and Burton were

awarded a penalty. Kee scored from the spot. Ensuring that the Brewers

stay very much in the race for the top three. At this stage it's all

about winning games. It doesn't matter how you do it. It's about

winning games. That is it. You can look as nice or as pretty as you

want to. If you don't win the game it's irrelevant. Fleetwood will hope

their recent indifferent form won't end in the sort of slump which

skufrperred any promotion hopes 12 months ago. Sarcevic will have been

grateful to have been adjudged offside here. Pond wasn't spared by

the assistant flag. Wimbledon held on to stay in the top half. It's now

nine games without a win for Southend although they were on the

end of rough luck against Wickham. Leonard tested. A header from Corr

put them ahead. A moment of ill fortune for the hosts fold not long

after. This strike from distance went in via the bar and the back of

Bentley. Bentley was disposent in the dressing room afterwards. He

ensured things didn't get worse for the hosts by making a smart stop to

keep Morgan at bay. The lads bought a raffle ticket, hit the crossbar

and gone into the back of the net. Disappointing, only a point. We

deserved the three today. Sheridan has Plymouth heading in the right

direction after putting four past Fleetwood in the week they bettered

that scoreline at the expense of Morecambe. Berry was an unlikely

scorer. Argyle never looked back. His first ever Football League goal.

Their second came thanks to Alessandra against his former club.

The Alessandra sent clear on goal. Underlining his importance to the

side with a neat finish. The Pilgrims nominated experience.

Nelson got their third of the afternoon. The contest appeared

over. Substitute Gurrieri gave the encounter a one-sided look.

Morecambe hadn't won in nine. Gurrieri made the desired impact. It

was still time for Alessandr to claim his second and Plymouth's

fifth. 11 goals in three games now. They have won them all. They are two

points away from the play-off places.

Hartlepool sealed a deal to keep Barmby for another six matches. The

teen err evaded Torquay's defenders. Another hammer blow for the club who

allowed James to seal their fate in the second-half. The future appears

bleak for the bottom side. This their fourth defeat in five.

Hartlepool's outlook is brighter. Back on track, they are in the

play-off hunt. Harewood rounded off a comprehensive success.

After four home games without a goal York fans might have agreed.

Set-pieces proved their salvation here. McCombe netting from this

corner. Coulson found a way through a host of yellow shirts. Bennett

scored the third goal of the game's opening half-hour. There were nervy

moments for York in the second-half. John O'Flynn hit the post. The

Minstermen held on for their first win in five home games. Dagenham's

unlikely play-off charge has been hampered by their poor home form.

New Year's Day was the last time they won here. Mansfield are among a

clutch of clubs hovering above the bottom two. The goalkeeper denied

Murphy to ensure they took a point home. Mark Yeates felt Cheltenham

deserved all three points against Bury. His side had to

come-from-behind. Platt pounced on this cross to bag his first goal

since signing for the Shakers in January. The lead lasted for less

than two minutes. Bury were punished for being caught in possession.

Vincent steered in his second goal in three games.

Nardiello had a good chance to restore the visitors' lead but

having done the hard work, couldn't find the finish. It proved costly as

the Robins pushed on for their second win in ten league games. Some

fine work on the wind teed up by Ron Harrison for a close range header.

-- on the wing. Given that Shelbourne had dropped the highest

number of points from winning positions in League Two this

season, the home fans may have been nervy with a one goal lead. Brian

Jensen's miraculous save ensured Harrison couldn't give them a

cushion. Northampton town of enjoyed an

upturn in form. Successive victories had lifted them from the bottom of

the table. Bristol Rovers arrived unbeaten in four but their away

record is far from spectacular. They survived a few scares along the way

in a match that ended in stalemate. Rovers' best opportunity fell to

Dave Clarkson. Matt Duke in the home goal kept them out. Chris Wilder's

arrival at Northampton has given them hope.

It has been a good eight days for Northampton, seven from nine, but

still kept at arms length from the rest of the sides above them. Well

done to Scott Hogan, another hat-trick since the transfer window

closed. He almost seems revitalised after having his head turned from

possible moves. Years, he has certainly got his head down now.

That was flicking and then a wonderful run and finish. As the

awareness, even when it gets a bit of luck. And this is one of yours.

Like most of the ones I scored. A scuffle in a deflection. They all

count. It is a wonderful return again. Goals aplenty but Plymouth at

the moment, for last weekend, five this week unopposed against

Morecambe. A great performance from their front two. Last week, they

resolve against Fleetwood, we all sat up and said, maybe, just maybe

they might be fulfilling the potential. We know they are a decent

club. They have floated around, they haven't looked like they were going

to make an impression and now they are pretty close, results are going

their way and they look a potent force going forward. It could be a

good end to the season. Let's have a look at the tables after Saturday's

games. Leicester remain top. Bernie improved their chances of a top two

finish. Wigan are in the play-off places, their highest position since

the opening day of the season. Despite having three players red

carded, macro -- Yeovil are of the bottom for the first time for a

while. Wolverhampton Wanderers go top of League One on goal difference

ahead of Leyton Orient. Four of the top 51 on Saturday while Brentford

failed to score for the second game running. It leaves them three points

behind the top two but with games in hand. Crawley with the big movers,

jumping up to 13th, five, after finally playing that first home

match of and winning it. -- five places. Stevenage's comeback win

moves them off the bottom for the first time this year, replaced by

Notts County. Chesterfield's lead at the top of League Two is then to

appoint as Scunthorpe drew at Newport. Rochdale are level points

with the iron after win over Oxford. Cheltenham are the only side in the

bottom half to win on Saturday, jumping for places up to 13th.

Northampton close the gap on Accrington after a goalless home

draw. That is all from us, but a reminder that we are back tomorrow

with all of the drama from the Capital One Cup final at Wembley.

Manchester City and Sunderland are in pursuit of that first trophy of

the season. Highlights to come straight out the Match of the Day 2

at 11:30pm. -- straight after. And then Late Kick-off is back on

Monday. Steve, as always, thank you for your company. We are back

tomorrow. Until then, goodbye.