Liverpool held off Aston Villa’s plucky challenge to close the gap on the Premier League’s top four.Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk struck in the first half before Stefan Bajcetic’s first senior goal made it 3-1.Victory moved them five points adrift of the Champions League spots, remaining sixth, ahead of Friday’s visit of Leicester.Yet they rode their luck against mid-...Full Story »

Sutton boss Matt Gray felt his men responded perfectly to his demand to step it up in the second half as they secured only their second away Sky Bet League Two win of the season with a 2-1 victory at Crawley.Joe Kizzi’s first goal of the campaign and a penalty by former Crawley player Rob Milsom did the damage for Gray’s side, albeit with substitute Aramide Oteh’s grabbing a la...Full Story »

Joey Barton credited opposition manager Gareth Ainsworth after Bristol Rovers lost 2-1 to Wycombe in Sky Bet League One.Barton’s side went ahead just four minutes in through on-loan Middlesbrough forward Josh Coburn, although David Wheeler pulled the hosts level in the 22nd minute.A strike from Lewis Wing in the 48th minute was enough to hand the Chairboys victory, meaning Ainsworth’...Full Story »

Neil Critchley extended his unbeaten start to life as QPR manager as his side made it four points from six with a scrappy goalless draw at Cardiff.Having ended an alarming run of six games without a victory in their 1-0 win at Preston in his first game in charge last week, QPR stayed on the fringes of the play-off places by taking a point on their travels.For Cardiff, it was another year without...Full Story »

Quality was key for Darrell Clarke as Gavin Massey’s first-half winner sealed a 1-0 win over Morecambe which lifted Port Vale up to ninth in Sky Bet League One.Massey’s superb 40th-minute strike was out of keeping with much of a contest that slipped away from the relegation-threatened Shrimps in the blink of an eye.After surviving when Max Melbourne’s header rattled an upright,...Full Story »

Walsall manager Michael Flynn hailed his players’ character after a dramatic 2-1 stoppage-time victory at Swindon.Manny Monthe’s late winner helped the Saddlers extend their unbeaten run to nine games.Flynn said: “I don’t care when we score as long as they keep coming, but it is testament to the lads.“They keep going and keep believing, dig deep, and throw our bodie...Full Story »

Carlisle manager Paul Simpson was pleased with his side’s creativity, if not their cutting edge, as they defeated Bradford 1-0 to climb to fourth in Sky Bet League Two.Paul Huntington’s first-half header proved decisive at Brunton Park as Carlisle extended a 37-year unbeaten home streak against the Bantams.“Was it deserved?” Simpson pondered. “I’m not sure I a...Full Story »

Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna felt the 3-0 victory over Oxford at Portman Road was the result of “a good performance” from his team.Goals from Freddie Ladapo, Wes Burns and leading scorer Conor Chaplin ensured the three points for Town and maintained second spot in League One.McKenna admitted it was “nice” to send the majority of the 28,072 fans home happy after they tur...Full Story »

Nigel Pearson was in no mood to throw in the towel after disgruntled Bristol City fans chanted for his dismissal during the Robins’ 2-0 home defeat to West Brom.The experienced manger was already under intense pressure before a goal in each half from Matt Phillips and substitute Brandon Thomas-Asante gave Albion a deserved victory which leaves City two points above the Championship drop zo...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 »