We might have our feet up in front of the fire, but the job never stops, and I have no doubt at least one of the coaching team would have been at the Ipswich fixture on Tuesday, and the rest more than likely tuning into IFollow as we keep an eye on our opponents on Saturday Northampton Town, and also to see what’s going on in and around League 1 with fixtures from both Tuesday & Wednesday night.
Gillingham 1 Peterborough 3
Despite the vast majority of 1st half possession Posh were made to pay for creating nothing of any note as John Akinde was felled in the area on the half hour and duly dusted himself down to fire the Gills in front slotting the penalty down the middle. We can only imagine the teacups were flying in the Posh dressing room as they came out in the second half a different team as Jonson Clarke-Harris took just two minutes to restore parity. Just six minutes later the game was turned on its head when Posh took the lead, second half sub Siriki Dembele being set up by Sammie Szmodics and just 15 minutes later it was game over as Clarke-Harris but it beyond doubt.
Blackpool 1 Rochdale 0
This wasn’t the most exciting game in the world with the only real highlight being Sullay Kaikai’s first half goal that was fired home from 10 yards after Matty Virtue nodded a delightful ball in his path. Rochdale offered nothing in the second half allowing Blackpool the most comfortable of 1-0 victory’s. Blackpool move up to 14th and Rochdale are still looking over their shoulder teetering above the relegation zone.
Bristol Rovers 3 Portsmouth 1
The result of the week as rudderless Rovers shocked promotion chasing Pompey. All appeared to be going well for Portsmouth when John Marquis fired them in front just before the half hour mark. Rovers though came firing back to score two quick fire goals through Jonah Kayunga to lead at the interval. Pompey piled on the pressure in the second half searching for parity but with 20 minutes to go Luke Leahy was tripped in the box, and he picked himself up and converted the penalty giving Bristol the unlikeliest of wins that eased them out of the bottom four and dented Pompey’s automatic promotion aspirations.
Ipswich 0 Northampton 0
On balance the Cobblers just about shaded another dull game in League 1, but the talking point can only be about one thing. Alan Judge appeared to dive in the Cobblers penalty area trying to hoodwink ref Darren Drysdale. In the aftermath it looks like Drysdale stuck his head towards Judge in a threatening manner, Drysdale has since apologised but today Drysdale has been charged by the FA for improper conduct. What will go largely missed is that Ipswich player Downes was sent off in the final minutes of the game.
Wigan 0 Hull 5
Wigan must have been buoyed with their victory last week against the Cobblers and might have fancied themselves over the misfiring Hull attack who were probably still smarting from their defeat against the mighty Dons. But on Wednesday night it all came good for the Tigers as they fired in five unanswered goals, a trio for Malik Wilks and one each for Josh Magennis and Keane Lewis-Potter moving Hull back into 2nd spot whilst also dealing a crippling blow to the goal difference of relegation threatened Wigan.
Doncaster 0 Accrington 1
All of a sudden its gone a bit wrong for Doncasterlona as they suffered their third loss on the bounce, this time at the hands of promotion chasing Accy Stan. With 34 shots in the game it was hotly contested with neither team wanting to suffer defeat, but Stanley took the points with the only goal of the game coming just before halftime through Paul Smyth who picked up a loose ball and powered into the Donny area and hit a deflected shot past the stranded Balcombe the Doncaster keeper. Stanley were good value for the win having the better of the chances, but Donny never gave up and had a last gasp chance to equalise when Elliot Simoes had a header blocked on the line. Stanley now move up to 6th place after hurdling Sunderland, Oxford, and Charlton.
