Blues stare into abyss as clubs below find form

Last updated : 29 January 2009 By Shrimpers24

Leicester City 0 Brighton & Hove Albion 0

Leicester City extended their lead at the top of League One despite being held to a goalless draw at home to Brighton.

The Seagulls had to line up in The Foxes' third-choice kit after the officials ruled their strips clashed and visiting keeper John Sullivan was called into action early on to deny Matty Fryatt.

Leicester came even closer to breaking the deadlock on the half-hour mark when Andy King's shot deflected onto the crossbar.

Striker Paul Dickov and Fryatt missed further chances in the second half as Brighton held out for a gritty point.

MK Dons 1 Leyton Orient 2

Sam Baldock missed a last-minute penalty for promotion-chasing MK Dons as Leyton Orient bagged their first win in ten matches.

The Dons took the lead in the 19th minute when Aaron Wilbraham sent Chadwick clear to curl a shot beyond Jones and into the top corner.

But Orient instantly improved and Morgan fired past Willy Gueret six minutes later from JJ Melligan's free kick.

Stephen Purches powered The O's in front on the hour from 25 yards before The Dons, winless in 2009, piled forward and keeper Jamie Jones made himself an O's hero with his penalty save.

Peterborough United 4 Crewe Alexandra 2

Peterborough kept their promotion charge on track as George Boyd stuck a double to settle a six-goal thriller against Crewe.

The League Two strugglers took a shock lead when Russell Martin's mistake allowed in Tom Pope who coolly slotted past Joe Lewis.

Boyd quickly brought The Posh level at the start of the second half before leading goalscorer Aaron Mclean's brilliant finish put them ahead.

Pope's second drew Crewe level only for Dean Keates to follow up after Charlie Lee's shot was blocked and Boyd had the last word with a terrific finish.

Scunthorpe United 2 Oldham Athletic 0

Scunthorpe leapfrogged promotion rivals Oldham as two goals in six first-half minutes helped The Iron to their third straight victory.

Chris McCan gave the home side the lead with a 25-yard free kick on 27 minutes - his fifth goal of the season all coming from set pieces.

Home fans did not have to wait long for the second when excellent work from Paul Hayes teed up Gary Hooper for a simple finish.

Striker Lee Hughes had a goal ruled out for Oldham to the fury of the visiting players but the home side held out for a comfortable victory.

Hereford United 0 Millwall 2

Tony Craig's second goal of the season helped Millwall move to within one point of the automatic promotion spots with a routine victory at struggling Hereford.

The home side started brightly and they nearly took the lead Andy Williams' low effort shaved the post.

But Millwall gradually took control and deservedly went ahead when defender Craig headed in David Martin's corner.

They wrapped up the three points in injury time when Lewis Grabban's shot was blocked and Marc Laird followed up on the rebound.

Leeds United 2 Southend United 0

Rui Marques and Richard Naylor grabbed their first goals of the season to help Leeds to their third win on the spin and leave Southend still searching for their first win of 2008.

For a full report and player markings go here: www.thelittlegazette.com/news/loadnews.asp?cid=TMNW&id=429282

Yeovil Town 1 Huddersfield Town 0

Shaun McDonald hit a goal on his debut to give Yeovil a crucial three points against in-form Huddersfield.

Danny Schofield nearly drew first blood for the Glovers against his former club but was denied by a last-ditch tackle just as he was about to pull the trigger.

But McDonald did grab what proved to be the decisive goal when he converted Schofield's low cross.

Colchester United 2 Northampton Town 1

Northampton were hit by a two-goal sucker punch in the space of 60 seconds as Mark Yeates and Scott Vernon struck to inch Colchester closer to the play-offs.

It had started so well for The Cobblers when Adebayo Akinfenwa turned home Abdul Osman's pull back for his tenth goal of the season.

But in first-half injury time Paul Rodgers saw red for a second yellow card and Yeates got Colchester back on level terms on 56 minutes when he turned in Mark Tierney's left-wing corner.

Almost straight from kick-off, the home team took the lead when Vernon was left unattended in the area to head past Jimmy Walker.

Bristol Rovers 3 Cheltenham Town 2

Ricky Lambert broke his goal duck in spectacular fashion as his double helped Bristol Rovers come from behind twice to down Cheltenham

The visitors took the lead when Craig Hinton's clearance deflected to Ashley Vincent who made no mistake from close range only for Lambert to equalise on 20 minutes for his first goal since early December.

More defensive uncertainty from the Bristol Rovers defence allowed Lloyd Owusu the space to slam home for his sixth of the season.

But Rovers completed the turnaround when Darryl Duffy smashed in Ricky Lambert's flick on before he grabbed his second with just five minutes remaining with a strike from the edge of the area.

Hartlepool United 2 Carlisle United 2

Joel Porter's 85th minute strike rescued a point for Hartlepool who came from two goals down to draw with Carlisle.

The Cumbrian side took the lead in spectacular fashion when Marc Bridge-Wilkinson connected perfectly with a 25-yard volley.

And Carlisle looked good value for the three points when Cleveland Taylor helped Peter Murphy's effort into the net just before the break.

Andy Monkhouse pulled a goal back on 56 minutes when he pounced on a loose ball in the box and with five minutes to go Porter glanced Matty Robson's corner in.

Swindon Town 3 Walsall 2

Swindon eased their relegation worries as Simon Cox bagged his 18th goal of the season in their nervy home win over Walsall.

Cox turned provide to lay on the opening goal heading the ball back across ball for Kevin Amankwaah to grab his first goal for The Robins.

And the 21-year-old striker showed why he is one of the hottest properties in League One with a superb 20-yard volley and Billy Paynter's 48th minute strike looked to have secured the win.

But The Robins had to endure a nervy finish when Jabo Ibhere pulled a goal back for Walsall on 75 minutes and Troy Dreeney quickly added another one but Swindon held on.

Coca-Cola Football League One

Latest match Tuesday,
27th January 2009
PldHomeAwayOverallPtsEP
WDLFAWDLFAWDLFA
1Leicester City 27113129974123121872522161+31
2Milton Keynes Dons 27815241482328151638522951+23
3Peterborough United 27941291354422221485513550+16
4Scunthorpe United 27832281672522191557503550+15
5Millwall 25931181062418161555362650+10
6Oldham Athletic 28851291354518231396473648+11
7Leeds United 278242817616181714310463445+12
8Tranmere Rovers 261013281533611171349393243+7
9Stockport County 27544191664421151188403141+9
10Huddersfield Town 286442118536172411710384240-4
11Colchester United 275361615634252411610413939+2
12Bristol Rovers 2663426182651923899454133+4
13Northampton Town 27662221223816248910383633+2
14Hartlepool United 2665330233189199611394233-3
15Walsall 26615201934716209512363932-3
16Carlisle United 27714251724912279513374432-7
17Southend United 27624141125817338712314431-13
18Yeovil Town 27365151943610187911253730-12
19Swindon Town 26446222625517216911394727-8
20Leyton Orient 28247111944712196814233826-15
21Brighton & Hove Albion 262461521365141751011293825-9
22Hereford United 26445171312106265615233921-16
23Cheltenham Town 264451823121013345615315721-26
24Crewe Alexandra 264261623121116355417325819-26