Steve Cotterill’s Bristol City travelled to Oakwell on Saturday as they looked to continue their unbeaten league run against Barnsley. The league’s top scorers had Aaron Wilbraham to thank after his 79th minute equaliser flashed past Tykes keeper Ross Turnbull to rescue a point for the Robins in a 2-2 draw. This result allowed Preston North End to move within five points in second, with two games in hand. Joe Garner bagged a hat-trick as Simon Grayson’s men overcame conceding two early goals to defeat Fleetwood Town 3-2 at Deepdale and have now won their last six league games.
Notts County also reduced the deficit at the top of League One, as they jump to third with one game in hand. The Magpies have now won their last five league games and are unbeaten in nine after a last gasp Zeli Ismail penalty secured a 1-0 win against Scunthorpe United at Glanford Park. The Iron remain rooted to the bottom of League One as new boss Mark Robins still awaits his first win.
Sheffield United moved up into fifth after defeating 10-man Crewe Alexandra at Gresty Road 1-0. Stefan Scougall finished off a fine move from Jamie Murphy for the Blades who have now won their last three, whereas Crewe drop to 23rd in the table and continue to hold the league’s worst defensive record.
Peterborough United and MK Dons were the two teams to fall from automatic promotion and playoff positions as they dropped points against Coventry City and Doncaster Rovers respectively. The Posh started brightly at the Ricoh Arena as they went two up within half an hour with goals from Jon Taylor and Marcus Maddison. The Sky Blues however turned the game on its head in the second half as Ryan Haines, Jim O’Brien and Frank Nouble strikes consigned Darren Ferguson’s men to a 3-2 loss and their second straight defeat, as they drop from second to fourth. The Dons started the day in fourth but a 0-0 draw at the Keepmoat Stadium resulted in them dropping out of the playoff positions into seventh, whilst Donny slip from 17th to 20th and are now precariously outside the relegation zone.
Oldham Athletic took advantage of slips at the top to move into the playoff positions as they defeated Bradford City 2-1 at Boundary Park. Ex-Saints striker Jonathan Forte, who now has 11 league goals, set the Latics on their way to an eleventh game without defeat, whilst the Bantams have now gone four league games without tasting victory but remain rooted in mid-table.
At the bottom of the table Yeovil Town slipped further into danger as they were soundly beaten at Huish Park 3-0 by top away scorers Rochdale. Ian Henderson bagged a brace for the Dale who rise to eighth, whilst the Glovers drop a further place to 22nd and are now without a win in six and on a miserable run of form. Gillingham take up the remaining relegation spot as a 1-1 draw at home to Crawley Town wasn’t enough to see them drop two places to 21st. Leon Legge cancelled out Gwion Edwards’ opener for John Gregory’s side who remain in 13th, but the pressure continues to mount on Gills boss Peter Taylor with no wins in seven.
Walsall were the main victors towards the bottom of the table on Saturday as top scorer Tom Bradshaw returned to secure a 1-0 win at the Bescot Stadium against Chesterfield. The result sees the Saddlers move up into 19th from 23rd and the Spireites now on a run of four league games without a win, whilst remaining in tenth.
Elsewhere in League One this weekend Swindon Town played out a 2-2 draw at the County Ground against Colchester United. Michael Smith scored twice for the Robins but Rhys Healey and Gavin Massey levelled out either of Smith’s goals to give the U’s a share of the spoils. Finally Leyton Orient succumbed to their first away league defeat of the season as they went down 3-0 to Port Vale at Vale Park. Darius Henderson was sent off after half an hour for the O’s leaving the home side to take full advantage of the man extra through goals from Adam Yates, Ben Williamson and a Nathan Clarke own goal. The result sees Vale leapfrog 18th placed Orient into 16th.