Hard to believe we are around three quarters of the way through the season already, hardly seems possible, but we are getting to that time of the year that for some teams every game is like a cup final. There will be one or two teams that put together an almost impossible run of results, others will hardly be able to buy a win. Lets have a look and see how things are shaping up this week with a slightly reduced fixture list with two teams playing in the EFL Trophy down at Wembley.
Swindon 1 Gillingham 3
Swindon remain in trouble second from bottom with an unwelcome home defeat in the early kick off game. The Robins did take the lead in the 1st half through Brett Pitman, but the Gills took command in the second half with three goals in 9 minutes, a brace from Vadaine Oliver and the icing on the cake from Kyle Dempsey to make it in the end a comfortable victory.
Blackpool 0 Fleetwood 0
In the Fylde Coast derby it finished in a stalemate, with both teams extending their unbeaten runs. The only thing of note was that Blackpool gave it a right go with 24 attempts, other than that, there is little to enthuse about.
Bristol Rovers 0 AFCW 0
In this relegation battle it was the AFC keeper Nik Tzanev that was the hero making a number of stunning saves. It wasn’t all one way traffic though as AFC sniffed they might be able to steal the victory at the death and Joe Day in goal for Rovers had to make two crucial saves. The draw though does push AFC down to the bottom spot, which for many Dons fans will be the cherry on the cake, after our injury time winner.
Charlton 1 Shrewsbury 1
In a game of poor quality and few chances it finished honours even. The Shrews broke the deadlock soon into the second half, Sean Goss heading home a pinpoint cross at the back post with the Charlton defence nowhere to be seen. Conor Washington drew Athletic level and made it three goals in a week ten minutes from time cutting in from the flank and striking it under the Shrews keeper just after Chuks Aneke had rattled the underneath of the crossbar.
Crewe 0 Burton 3
Burton are unstoppable at the moment, winning now 6 games on the bounce and it was a Kane Hemmings first half hattrick that did the damage. Strangely all three goals were defensive errors and Hemmings was on hand to willingly take advantage of the sloppy Crewe defending. Burton looking dead and buried a few weeks ago move up to 18th and 7 points clear of the drop.
Doncaster 0 Northampton 0
Another dull game in League 1 with Doncaster just edging it on chances and ball possession but they couldn’t break down a stubborn Cobblers defence. Donny stay in 5th, but a point just eases Northampton out of the drop zone on goal difference.
Hull 2 Oxford 0
League leaders Hull City reinforced their grip on the top spot with a 2-0 win but were made to battle hard by the Karl Robinson side who could easily have taken the lead. The difference between the two sides though was Keane Lewis-Potter with a goal in each half, the pick of which was his effort in the first half that curled into the corner after he ran onto a Lewie Coyle long ball. That’s five wins in a row for the Tigers who go 6 points clear although the chasing pack all have games in hand.
Ipswich 1 Plymouth 0
A win for Ipswich that I think puts them in the playoff paces for the first time this season, Troy Parrott’s 4th minute goal deciding the game, the on loan Spurs striker seizing on an under hit pass from Adam Lewis that left the Argyle keeper stranded as he recorded his first goal in senior football.
Lincoln 1 Rochdale 2
The result of the day for Dale as they beat long time league leaders Lincoln City, the result though did not lift them out of the bottom four, but it has certainly helped the cause. Dale took the lead after the Imps failed to deal with a long throw and Olly Rathbone took control of the situation on the edge of the area and fired home a low shot into the corner. This wasn’t a smash and grab from Dale who could have put the game to bed as the Imps defence creaked and it took a second for brilliance from Morgan Rogers to draw Lincoln level. He exchanged passes with Callum Morton then sent a rocket shot into the top corner. Dale though were not to be denied the much needed points when 16 minutes from time Stephen Humphreys shrugged off a couple of challenges and knocked it in off the inside of the post, Lincoln remain in third place.
