Cheltenham manager Michael Duff was given the perfect birthday present as his side breezed past Walsall with a comfortable 3-1 home win.The Robins boss was celebrating his 42nd birthday and goals from Max Sheaf, Conor Thomas and Alfie May put them firmly on course for a return to the top three. A late consolation from Elijah Adebayo could not dampen the party atmosphere inside the Jonny-Rocks St...Full Story »

Cheltenham’s new signing Owen Evans could make his debut in Michael Duff’s matchday squad for their match against Walsall on Saturday.The 23-year-old spent the first half of the season on loan at Macclesfield, but has joined the Robins after goalkeeper Scott Flinders sustained a broken leg and has been ruled out for the remainder of the season.Max Sheaf and Jacob Greaves have extende...Full Story »

Cheltenham manager Michael Duff told his team to be more streetwise despite seeing them earn a 1-1 draw at Newport thanks to former Exile Ben Tozer.Captain Tozer slotted home Chris Hussey’s low cross with just four minutes of normal time to play as he cancelled out an opening strike from Newport’s Tristan Abrahams.Duff felt a point was the least his team deserved while he also bemoan...Full Story »

Mark Bowen praised his Reading players after they showed “enormous character” to pull off a surprise 2-1 win at play-off hopefuls Fulham.Ivan Cavaleiro scored shortly after coming off the bench in the second half, but it was enough as goals from John Swift and Charlie Adam earned the Royals victory.Reading’s first win on New Year’s Day since 2007 means they are now just f...Full Story »

Jarrod Bowen struck the only goal as Hull began the new decade with a 1-0 victory at Sheffield Wednesday and condemned the hosts to a third straight defeat.Wednesday had the majority of chances to score but they failed to capitalise on them and Bowen’s second-half goal was enough to give Grant McCann’s men all three points as they made it eight wins out of their last 14 Championship ...Full Story »

Mark Warburton will be without the services of Yoann Barbet and Charlie Owens when his QPR side host Cardiff on Wednesday.Defender Barbet will not feature in the squad as he continues to recover from a hamstring issue.Owens also remains sidelined after suffering a knee injury.Goalkeeper Liam Kelly is available after damaging his quad in November but will need to oust first-choice Joe L...Full Story »

Cheltenham manager Michael Duff criticised two decisions that went against his side after their 1-1 draw with Northampton on Sunday.The Robins were awarded a third-minute penalty when Jordan Turnbull tripped George Lloyd as the striker raced through on goal.Conor Thomas converted but Duff was unhappy that Turnbull did not see red, particularly after the same man equalised shortly before half-tim...Full Story »

Newport manger Michael Flynn was left frustrated after his side were held to a 1-1 draw by Leyton Orient at Rodney Parade.An early goal by Ruel Sotiriou put the visitors ahead before Padraig Amond equalised with nine minutes to go.The draw leaves County without a win in nine League Two games.“I am absolutely fuming that we gave them the start we gave them,” said Flynn.There was so ma...Full Story »

Mark Bowen is keen to start looking up the table rather than over his shoulder after Reading’s 2-0 win at promotion-chasing Preston.The result represents the Royals’ fourth clean sheet on the spin as first-half goals from John Swift and Lucas Joao moved them ever further from relegation strife.Bowen was quick to point out the gravity of the achievement that going to Deepdale and emer...Full Story »

Reading manager Mark Bowen revealed after the 1-0 Championship victory over QPR that he had given his players a full day off on Christmas Day – a rarity in professional football.The home side dominated play in a poor first half, with Rangers goalkeeper Joe Lumley saving well from Ovie Ejaria and John Swift.Reading went ahead seven minutes after the interval when Swift arrowed in a magnific...Full Story »

Michael Smith came off the bench to head the winner deep into stoppage time as Rotherham completed a 2-1 victory at Shrewsbury.Joe Mattock earlier headed the visitors in front before Aaron Pierre equalised for Shrewsbury.Rotherham were first to threaten when a Carlton Morris shot was deflected over the crossbar. Striker Morris then went even closer when his close-range effort came back off a pos...Full Story »

Michael Duff said Cheltenham’s players could go and enjoy their Christmas party after hitting back for a 1-1 Sky Bet League Two draw at home to Cambridge.The Robins were battling relegation 12 months ago, with their festive celebrations almost cancelled entirely.But Will Boyle’s header to cancel out Paul Lewis’ opener for improving Cambridge lifted them into the automatic promo...Full Story »

Michael Appleton admitted persistence rather than quality was behind Lincoln’s win over 10-man Tranmere Rovers.The Imps completed back-to-back league wins for the first time since August – and for the first time ever under Appleton – as they eventually saw off Tranmere, who had Corey Blackett-Taylor dismissed for two bookable offences five minutes before half-time.John Akinde s...Full Story »

Reading manager Mark Bowen admitted that he expected a lot more from his players in their 3-2 Championship defeat at home to Birmingham.Birmingham went ahead through an own goal from Michael Morrison, the former Blues defender, but Yakou Meite nodded in the equaliser on the stroke of half time.A stunning free kick from Jeremie Bela and a late effort from Alvaro Gimenez put Birmingham in firm con...Full Story »

Michael O’Neill wants to offload some of his underachieving players in January as Stoke lost 2-1 at Hull.The Potters remain in the Sky Bet Championship relegation zone after Jarrod Bowen’s second-half brace consigned the visitors to a third defeat on the bounce.Stoke fans reacted to this latest reverse with loud chants of “you’re not fit to wear the shirt” at full-t...Full Story »

Jarrod Bowen scored twice in the second half as Hull came from behind to win 2-1 at home to Stoke.The in-demand winger took his tally to 15 goals this season as the visitors succumbed to a third defeat on the spin.Michael O’Neill’s Stoke side remain in the relegation zone but they led 1-0 at the break when Sam Vokes scored his first league goal of the season after seven minutes.Vokes...Full Story »

Michael Smith returns from illness for Hearts as they host Livingston in the Ladbrokes Premiership.But fellow defenders Aaron Hickey and Aidy White are doubts after picking up knocks against Rangers, with the latter less likely to feature.Peter Haring (groin), John Souttar (ankle), Ben Garuccio (knee) and Conor Washington (hamstring) are fighting to get back to fitness.Livingston hope to nurse s...Full Story »

Amazon Prime has Alan Shearer and Michael Owen on board as pundits as it launches its Premier League coverage this week - but the two will be kept apart after their public row. A host of top commentators and pundits has been recruited by Amazon Prime as it prepares to show all 10 of this week's midweek Premier League games in what will be an online first for English football. As well as Sheare...Full Story »

Mark Bowen admitted he had already started to formulate his post-match press conference of woe before a dramatic five-minute hat-trick from George Puscas saw Reading win 3-1 at Wigan.The Latics had led 1-0 with only 12 minutes to go, thanks to Joe Garner’s first goal of the season, but were blown away by the brilliance of Puscas.After Dujon Sterling had been harshly penalised for handball,...Full Story »

Frustrated Stoke boss Michael O’Neill says his side must learn to deal with the pressure of a relegation battle following their 2-1 defeat at home to Blackburn.The struggling Potters looked like they would claim a battling point after first-half goalscorer Bradley Dack bundled the ball into his own net following a corner with nine minutes left.But Sam Gallagher rounded off a superb counter...Full Story »