Caolan Lavery scored a hat-trick as troubled Scunthorpe ended an 11-match winless run with a 3-0 victory against Maidenhead.The result was not enough to lift the Iron off the bottom of the National League table but a first win since October was certainly something to celebrate.Scunthorpe had hit the post and seen one cleared off the line before Lavery scored the opener in the 29th minute after g...Full Story »

Paul Heckingbottom insisted Sheffield United fully deserved their point after John Egan’s last-gasp equaliser in a 1-1 draw at QPR.Ilias Chair’s 11th-minute goal – after a mistake by Egan – looked like giving Rangers their first home win under Neil Critchley.But Egan netted with seconds remaining for second-placed United, leaving them five rather than six points behind Sk...Full Story »

Chesterfield moved to within four points of second-placed Wrexham with a comfortable 4-1 win over bottom-side Scunthorpe despite having to come from behind.The visitors took the lead in the 20th minute when Cameron Wilson followed up to score after Alfie Beestin’s shot was parried by goalkeeper Ross Fitzsimons.However, the Spireites were level within seven minutes thanks to Armando Dobra&r...Full Story »

Tom Bradshaw’s double helped Millwall climb into the Championship play-off places with a comfortable 3-0 win over relegation-threatened Rotherham.The Lions striker took just four minutes to get the hosts off to a New Year flier before Cameron Humphreys’ own goal and Bradshaw’s late second capped a miserable afternoon for the Millers.The home side dominated the opening period af...Full Story »

Blackburn head coach Jon Dahl Tomasson was pleased his depleted side bounced back from consecutive Championship defeats to beat Cardiff 1-0.There was not much between the two sides in a scrappy encounter, summed up by Bradley Dack’s winner in the 48th minute which found the bottom left corner via a wicked deflection.It was reward for their endeavour, though Cardiff will rue Mark Harris and...Full Story »

Southampton will begin 2023 at the foot of the Premier League after a last-gasp Joao Palhinha goal condemned them to a 2-1 defeat at Fulham.James Ward-Prowse thought he had secured a first point under new Saints boss Nathan Jones after scoring a free-kick to cancel out his own own-goal.But Palhinha struck two minutes from time with a far-post header to leave Southampton rock bottom.Fulham, meanw...Full Story »

Slaven Bilic read the riot act to his players after their 4-0 hammering at Swansea and warned he will not “carry any passengers” in his side.Watford went down to their second defeat in a week, having lost 2-0 at home to Millwall on Boxing Day, but it was the manner of the latest setback that troubled Bilic.“It was a bit embarrassing to be fair – I have a bad feeling in my...Full Story »

Northampton boss Jon Brady admitted he was left scratching his head after praising his side’s ‘magnificent’ performance despite the 2-1 defeat to Swindon in Sky Bet League Two.The home side missed two clear chances in the first 25 minutes at Sixfields and were made to pay when Tyrese Shade’s thumping finish broke the deadlock and gave Swindon a fortuitous half-time lead.N...Full Story »

Sheffield United manager Paul Heckingbottom hailed his side’s relentless mentality as they drew level on points with Sky Bet Championship leaders Burnley thanks to a 2-1 victory away at Blackpool.Sander Berge put the visitors ahead in the first half before James McAtee’s stunning solo effort doubled the lead after the break, with Marvin Ekpiteta striking for the hosts.Norwegian midfi...Full Story »

Captain Tom Anderson scored his first goal in 14 months to earn Doncaster a thrilling 4-3 victory over struggling Rochdale in League Two.Anderson struck with nine minutes remaining to settle a game in which Dale had battled back from 2-0 and 3-2 down.Charlie Seaman saw a low drive take a wicked deflection to give Doncaster the lead after seven minutes – the first of four goals in a 10-minu...Full Story »

Swansea’s winless run in the Championship now stands at eight matches after they lost 2-1 in a scrappy affair at Reading.City went behind in the 27th minute when Andy Carroll smartly volleyed home, and could have fallen further adrift five minutes later.Carroll was pulled over by Jay Fulton in the area but Yakou Meite thundered the resultant penalty high over the crossbar.Tom Ince extended...Full Story »

Sheffield United manager Paul Heckingbottom talked up the importance of Wes Foderingham’s penalty save at the start of the second half which helped his side beat Coventry 3-1.After James McAtee had put the Blades ahead in the first half, Foderingham denied Viktor Gyokeres from 12 yards.Ciaran Clark then put Sheffield United 2-0 ahead four minutes later before substitute Tommy Doyle netted ...Full Story »

Northampton boss Jon Brady felt the 1-1 draw at promotion rivals Mansfield was a point gained, despite dominating the 90 minutes and enjoying the best of the chances.It looked like the Stags had stolen an undeserved win when Will Swan poked home the 84th-minute opener after goalkeeper Lee Burge had blocked a ricochet in the box as the Cobblers tried to clear.But Sam Hoskins majestically volleyed...Full Story »

Kaine Kesler-Hayden scored a late winner as bottom-of-the-table Huddersfield fought from behind to triumph 2-1 at promotion-chasing Preston.Greg Cunningham had given the hosts a first-half lead, having been belatedly awarded the goal after Ched Evans initially claimed the header at the near post.Jordan Rhodes registered his 96th goal for the Terriers before striking the post as the visitors batt...Full Story »

Sheffield United manager Paul Heckingbottom felt his side made much harder work of their 2-1 Championship victory at Wigan than was necessary.The Blades were given the perfect start at the DW Stadium when John Egan headed them ahead from a corner inside eight minutes.Skipper Billy Sharp doubled the lead 11 minutes after the restart, and the visitors were very good value for it.However, Wigan pul...Full Story »

Blackburn recorded a hard-fought 2-0 victory at fellow high-fliers Norwich to move to within two points of the automatic promotion places in the Sky Bet Championship.Ben Gibson’s own goal and a deflected effort from Tyrhys Dolan settled a tight game of few clear-cut chances, enabling the visitors to close the gap on second-placed Sheffield United, who are not in action until Monday.The gam...Full Story »

Raith and Arbroath played out a 1-1 draw in the Scottish Championship.The hosts went ahead in only the sixth minute with a helping hand from their opponents as Ricky Little diverted a cross into his own net.Second-bottom Arbroath put the ball in the right net just before half-time to equalise, Colin Hamilton heading in.And the strugglers might have clinched all three points but for a fine double...Full Story »

Sheffield United boss Paul Heckingbottom praised attacking pair Billy Sharp and Iliman Ndiaye following their 1-0 win over Huddersfield, but he accepted his side should have done more to put the game to bed in the second half.A first-half goal from skipper Sharp, assisted by Ndiaye, was enough to give the Blades victory over the Terriers, who offered very little going forward on the day.Heckingb...Full Story »

Japan defender Yuto Nagatomo has called on his team-mates to evoke the ‘Samurai spirit’ as they aim to overcome 2018’s beaten finalists Croatia and book their place in the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time in their history.The 36-year-old insists recent improvements in tactics and technique will count for nothing unless his side continue to display the kind of fearles...Full Story »

Walsall struck twice in the second half to see off Doncaster 2-0 and maintain their impressive run of form.Goals from strikers Tom Knowles and Danny Johnson ensured the visitors made it 13 points from their last five League Two games and moved within a point of the play-off places.The pair combined to nearly put Walsall in front after 19 minutes, but Knowles’ flick at the near post from a ...Full Story »