Getting closer to the sharp end now, and I’m still finding the battles at the top and bottom very intriguing, more so at the bottom the way it just swings one way then the other. I was going to say they all have varying degrees of tough tasks coming up, but the way results have been going all season, nothing is certain.Still whatever happens we will be here giving you the details.
Crewe 0 Portsmouth 0
Pompey’s playoff dreams were dealt a blow being held by a Crewe team that had been hit for 6 in their previous game. The Railwaymen made wholesale changes to their starting line-up, but they never really threatened the Pompey back line, and up the other end chances went begging, the best of all from 12 yards after Jaaskelainen felled Rona Curtis. Marquis stepped up but the keeper guessed correctly, and Pompey reluctantly had to settle for a point.
Wigan 2 Sunderland 1
Probably the result of the night for Wigan and in doing so creating a hammer blow to the Black Cats automatic promotion dream. Everything appeared to be going along fine when Charlie Wyke scored his 23rd goal of the season on the half hour. Will Keane levelled 10 minutes later and with 30 minutes remaining Callum Lang calmly finished from close range to give Wigan an unlikely lead, Sunderland offered little in trying to get back on level term’s and it was Wigan that spurned two glorious chances to put the game to bed, but it mattered little as they took the points. The win lifts Wigan out of the bottom 4, in defeat Sunderland are 8 points below Hull and 5 points behind Posh.
AFCW 3 Ipswich 0
This one certainly puts our game with Ipswich into context as AFC made light work of playoff pretenders Ipswich. On the evidence of this Ipswich will not be making the top 6, and as I suggested a few weeks ago once again AFC will complete the Great Escape. Will Nightingale scored his first goal in three years with a thumping header after 20 minutes. A few minutes later they doubled their lead when Jack Rudoni found himself all alone in the box to head home. Things quickly went from bad to worse for the Tractor Boys when Josh Harrop was given a straight red for a shocking challenge on Guinness-Walker and Ryan Longman completed the rout shortly before full time.
Blackpool 0 Accrington 0
Accy keeper Toby Savin made a number of fine saves to keep them in the game and it nearly paid off when with just minutes to go Accrington were given the opportunity to collect all three points. McConville was brought down in the box, Colby Bishop though couldn’t beat Chris Maxwell from 12 yards. The Seasiders drop one place into 5th with Accy now 7 points adrift of a playoff spot.
Doncaster 0 Burton 3
Doncasterlona have fallen off the edge of a cliff with 5 straight defeats, and we think we are having a bad day !!…Burton as usual conceded the possession but as we know that doesn’t bother them and three second half goals took the points back to Derbyshire courtesy of Akins, Hamer, and Carter during a 20 minute spell. Burton are just about safe now on 51 points, Doncaster are 12th 8 points off a playoff spot and cannot buy a win.
Oxford 4 Shrewsbury 1
Despite the occasional dodgy result Oxford are doing enough to stay in contention for the playoffs. Goals coming from Atkinson, Lee, Taylor, and Long with a consolation goal for the Shrews by Chapman. Strangely the 6 goals scored on Saturday plus the 4 in this game were scored by 10 different Oxford players.
Rochdale 2 Swindon 1
Dale won this basement clash with the Robins, their first home win in 6 months, but they still sit in last place 5 points from safety. Jimmy Keohane and Conor Grant scored for Dale, Jordan Garrick pulling one back for Swindon 2 minutes from time to give Dale the jitters, but they hung on to condemn Swindon to their 4th consecutive defeat.
