Play-off race tightens up as Francis says we'll still in it!

Speaking to BBC Radio Essex Blues Simon Francis is still confident of making up, er, 16 points! And why not.

"A couple of wins and we're back up there. If that happens maybe we can start talking about the top-half of the table and the play-offs. First we have to get out of where we are and not let people think we're in a relegation battle because it's not what we're thinking."

As for his several positions: "It's good being able to play in a number of positions, and when I was younger I was always put around because I could do a job in different positions.As you get older you want to hold down a position, but at this moment in time the fact that we need to pick up results means I'm happy to play anywhere for the gaffer."

Leeds United 2 Millwall 0 (played on Monday February 9)

Seventh-placed United overcame the sixth-placed Lions thanks to a Jermaine Beckford brace, with his goals coming in each half.

Beckford gave Simon Grayson's side the lead in the 32nd minute when he curled a left-footed shot under the bar after completing a run into the Millwall area.

He then added a second in the 90th minute to add gloss to the scoreline and take United to within two points of their opponents and the play-off places.

Brighton & Hove Albion 2 Peterborough United 4

Clear of the relegation zone by only one point, Micky Adams's Brighton were in need of a positive result and Craig Davies's 27th-minute opener appeared just the tonic.

Craig Mackail-Smith equalised for the visitors with a header just 10 minutes later though, and, three minutes before half-time, McLean struck the first of his two goals.

Jim McNulty pulled the home side level on the stroke of half-time, but a penalty from Dean Keates midway through the second half and a second goal from McLean 14 minutes from time was enough to lift The Posh to third place in the league.

Colchester United 0 Tranmere Rovers 1

Shotton headed in Charlie Barnett's 49th-minute free-kick to secure Rovers their first away win since October and end the U's nine-match unbeaten run.

Shotton saw an early header cannon off the crossbar, before Mark Yeates' deflected low effort grazed the post as Colchester went close.

But Shotton's header won it for Rovers and the U's could not find a leveller.

Carlisle United 1 Walsall 1

Carlise captain Paul Thirlwell was involved in both goals last night.

For starters Thirwell put his side ahead when he rattled home a powerful shot which went in off the underside of the bar for his third goal of the season.

But he then fouled Sofiene Zaaboub to give away a spot-kick and Michael Ricketts coolly tucked away the penalty.

Walsall's Mark Bradley nearly ended a run of eight away games without a win but put a long-range volley just high.