League Two top scorer Macaulay Langstaff netted his first ever EFL hat-trick in the first half as Notts County concluded their memorable 2023 with a 5-0 triumph over Morecambe.County dictated the tempo of the game early on and took the lead in the 10th minute courtesy of Langstaff’s penalty.The Magpies number nine did what he does best again in the 13th minute to give the hosts a deserved ...Full Story »

Leeds’ hopes of automatic promotion from the Championship suffered another blow as they were beaten 1-0 by West Brom at the Hawthorns.Grady Diangana’s 37th-minute goal was enough to give former Leeds coach Carlos Corberan back-to-back home wins and inflict a second consecutive loss on Daniel Farke’s side, who have won one of their last five games and trail second-placed Ipswich...Full Story »

Portsmouth boss John Mousinho cut a frustrated figure as his Sky Bet League One leaders were held to a goalless draw at struggling Exeter to make it three games without a win.Pompey enjoyed more possession and territory, but it was Exeter that created the better chances.Their troubles in front of goal – four goals in 15 games now – were all too evident, though, while Pompey rarely tr...Full Story »

Promotion-chasing Ipswich lost the chance to pull away from the pack in the Championship as they were held to a 0-0 draw by struggling QPR.The match saw both sides have a number of chances to win it, with the visitors coming closest when Steve Cook’s header hit the post and ran across the goal line.The result saw Ipswich fall eight points behind leaders Leicester, with the gap to third-pla...Full Story »

Carlisle boss Paul Simpson admitted his side never gave themselves a chance of climbing off the foot of Sky Bet League One as they crashed 2-0 at Wigan.Roared on by a travelling support of more than 4,000, the Cumbrians were fortunate to see Wigan’s Liam Morrison hit a post inside two minutes.And the night did not get any easier when Josh Emmanuel tripped Stephen Humphrys inside the box in...Full Story »

Darren Ferguson dished out the plaudits for Jonson Clarke-Harris after his double secured a 2-2 draw against League One promotion rivals Barnsley.The striker, who is widely expected to leave in January, provided what could be a memorable farewell in front of the home fans by heading in crosses from David Ajiboye and Harrison Burrows either side of the break after a shock recall to the side.Herbi...Full Story »

MK Dons manager Mike Williamson is encouraged by how his players found a way to defeat Crawley 2-0 despite not being at their best for long periods of the game.The Dons’ superb turnaround in fortunes since Williamson’s appointment in October continued as they recorded their fourth win in a row to move up to sixth in League Two.They are also unbeaten in nine league games, although the...Full Story »

Walsall manager Mat Sadler saluted his “brave and bold” side after they sunk high-flying Wrexham 3-1 with goals from Jack Earing, Isaac Hutchinson and Taylor Allen at the Bescot Stadium.Earing, starting his first game for a year after an ACL injury, put the Saddlers in front early on.Paul Mullin soon equalised from the penalty spot but second-half strikes from Isaac Hutchinson and su...Full Story »

Port Vale boss Andy Crosby felt it was about time his side beat one of the bigger sides in League One after their 3-0 victory over Blackpool.Ben Garrity’s opener was added to after half-time by James Wilson and Nathan Smith for a first win in three matches as Vale ended 2023 on a high.And Crosby reserved particular praise for the likes of youngsters Ben Lomax and Jack Shorrock, who made th...Full Story »

Burton have now gone three games unbeaten under interim manager Gary Mills after earning a hard-fought 1-0 victory at home against Shrewsbury.The home side took the lead with their first chance of the game, Joe Powell’s corner whipped perfectly onto the head of striker Beryly Lubala, who guided his effort into the back of the net on 16 minutes.The goal seemed to ignite Shrewsbury who had c...Full Story »

Eiran Cashin completed a stunning 3-2 comeback win for Derby at League One promotion rivals Oxford.After they trailed to two Cameron Brannagan goals, the Rams hit back with efforts from Craig Forsyth, Liam Thompson and Cashin extending their unbeaten run to nine matches.Oxford got off to the ideal start with a goal inside two minutes.Mark Harris, who had bagged a brace in Oxford’s 2-1 win ...Full Story »

Newport and Crewe shared the spoils after a largely uninspiring 1-1 draw at Rodney Parade.Chris Long put the visitors ahead three minutes after half-time but Exiles top scorer Will Evans’s 17th goal of the season earned the hosts a point.Evans was denied by his former team-mate Mickey Demetriou, who blocked his goalbound effort, early in the first half.And Matt Baker headed wide from a cor...Full Story »

Sunderland had to battle back to earn a 1-1 draw at Championship strugglers Rotherham.Two second-half goals ensured a point for both sides with Jack Clarke getting a deflected leveller for the visitors after Sam Clucas put the Millers ahead.Rotherham remained bottom despite picking up four points from their two post-Christmas matches, while Sunderland dropped out of the top six.It was a quiet op...Full Story »

Blackburn lost a fourth game in a row as Hull moved back into the Sky Bet Championship play-offs with a 3-2 victory at the MKM Stadium.Rovers were always up against it after Liam Delap and Aaron Connolly scored early in the first half.Sammie Szmodics and Harry Pickering – on his 25th birthday and 100th start for the club – made it 2-2 at the break but Alfie Jones’ winner after ...Full Story »

Bristol City’s charge towards the Championship play-offs hit a bump in the road as they were held to a 0-0 draw by Birmingham at St Andrew’s.A low-quality contest did little to ease Wayne Rooney’s concerns, with the Blues boss still having only two wins to his name since succeeding John Eustace 14 games ago, while Liam Manning saw his team’s three-game winning streak snap...Full Story »

Reading hit back from two goals down to claim a 2-2 draw at relegation rivals Cheltenham.All four goals came during a rip-roaring first half dominated by the home side, who have shown a marked improvement under boss Darrell Clarke.David Button denied Liam Sercombe, George Lloyd and Lewis Freestone as Reading were forced to withstand considerable pressure.But the opener arrived in the 29th minute...Full Story »

League Two leaders Stockport made it back-to-back away draws over Christmas with another point at Bradford.Dave Challinor’s side have now lost just once in 20 games after a goalless stalemate at Valley Parade in front of a 19,657 crowd, the match going ahead after passing an early-evening pitch inspection.Nick Powell saw two shots charged down from Stockport’s first corner before Ibo...Full Story »

Jonny Howson scored the winner moments after missing a penalty to give Middlesbrough a 2-1 victory over Huddersfield at the John Smith’s Stadium.Both sides missed chances in the first period when it looked easier to score, firstly the visitors came close when Isaiah Jones fluffed his lines from close range before Josh Koroma hit the woodwork in front of an open goal for Town.Second-half su...Full Story »

Port Vale returned to winning ways in League One with a 3-0 victory over Blackpool.Ben Garrity’s opener was added to after half-time by James Wilson and Nathan Smith for a first win in three matches.CJ Hamilton’s early attempt was thwarted by Vale stopper Connor Ripley, while Vale’s Uche Ikpeazu lashed wide before 10 minutes.Jordan Rhodes beat the offside trap but not Ripley as...Full Story »

Wycombe were indebted to goalkeeper Max Stryjek as they picked up a point with a 0-0 draw against Leyton Orient at Brisbane Road.The Chairboys arrived having endured a miserable lack of form of late that had left them with just five points from the last 33 available and without a league win since September.They owed their point to Stryjek, who pulled off two outstanding saves from Orient full-ba...Full Story »

Veteran striker Chris Martin came off the bench to secure Bristol Rovers a 2-1 victory over Charlton with a stunning double – including a stoppage-time winner – at the Memorial Stadium.Charlton began brightly and Alfie May almost opened the scoring after two minutes but his curling shot thudded against the crossbar with goalkeeper Matthew Cox well beaten.But Rovers gradually gained t...Full Story »

Troy Deeney is still awaiting his first win in charge of Forest Green after Mathew Stevens missed a stoppage-time penalty in their 2-1 defeat to Swindon in League Two.Daniel Kemp’s brace had the Robins ahead going into eight minutes of added time.And they held on for a first win in five games as goalkeeper Lewis Ward saved Stevens’ spot-kick.Swindon took the lead 11 minutes into the ...Full Story »

A clinical first-half strike from Marvin Johnson proved enough as 10-man Sheffield Wednesday edged to a 1-0 victory at Preston.The Owls, who remain rooted in the Championship drop zone, were forced to defend for their lives in the second half.They were reduced to 10 men when George Byers saw red late on but Wednesday held on to seal a potentially precious fourth victory in seven matches.In drivi...Full Story »

Second-half goals from Dion Charles and Victor Adeboyejo gave Bolton a well-deserved 2-0 win at Fleetwood.The visitors dominated throughout in atrocious conditions on the coast but had to wait until the 49th minute to lead, then seeing out the victory with little resistance and sealing it with a late goal from Adeboyejo.Title challengers Bolton made all the running in the first half but failed t...Full Story »

Tom Bradshaw’s first-half strike helped Millwall extend their unbeaten run to four Championship matches with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Norwich at The Den.The Lions striker netted his second goal in two games to inflict back-to-back defeats on David Wagner’s inconsistent Canaries.City dominated possession throughout the first half but went into the break behind after Bradshaw poked h...Full Story »

Josh Davison and Joe Lewis’ doubles helped AFC Wimbledon move into the League Two play-off places with a thrilling 5-3 win over Colchester at Plough Lane.The visitors had led halfway through the opening 45 minutes but succumbed to a fifth successive away league defeat after finishing the match with 10 players.Both teams scored inside the opening seven minutes during an enthralling first ha...Full Story »

Grimsby claimed a first away win of the season with a 3-0 victory over managerless Salford at the Peninsula Stadium.Harry Clifton’s strike sent the Mariners in a goal up at the break before Toby Mullarkey and Danny Rose struck in the second half.Salford’s Matthew Lund and Grimsby’s Niall Maher both hit shots against the woodwork in the early stages.Clifton then came up with the...Full Story »

Liam Cullen’s stoppage-time free-kick earned managerless Swansea a 2-2 draw at Coventry.The Swans had earlier been ahead through Liam Walsh’s first goal in almost four years, before Haji Wright and Ellis Simms put Coventry 2-1 in front.Swansea had been thrashed 5-0 by former head coach Russell Martin and Southampton on Boxing Day, but Cullen fired in a last-gasp set-piece to give his...Full Story »

Sky Bet League One leaders Portsmouth had to settle for a point as their disappointing festive form continued with a goalless draw at struggling Exeter.Pompey created the first chance of the match when former Exeter man Jack Sparkes was played in on the left, but his shot was saved by Vili Sinisalo.Dion Rankine was also off target with a header from a well-worked corner routine for the home side...Full Story »

Russell Martin hopes Prime Minister Rishi Sunak enjoyed the show his Southampton side put on as they beat Plymouth 2-1.Saints fan Sunak celebrated from the stands as Carlos Alcaraz and Che Adams helped the south coast side go a 17th match unbeaten to bolster their automatic promotion credentials.Martin, who has been a member of the Green Party, said: “I hope he enjoyed himself just like an...Full Story »

Joe Tomlinson’s early goal set MK Dons on their way to a fourth straight victory in League Two as they defeated Crawley 2-0 at Stadium MK.Crawley, who had Laurence Maguire sent off late on after Alex Gilbey’s clincher, will rue spurning a string of big chances during the game.MK Dons were ahead after just two minutes when Max Dean produced a superb pass to put Tomlinson through and h...Full Story »

The Sky Bet League One match between Stevenage and Cambridge was called off on Friday night due to a power cut.Some fans were already in the Lamex Stadium when the lights went out prior to the 7.45pm kick off, with Cambridge’s social media accounts reporting more were stranded outside due to the power outage affecting the turnstiles.At 8.19pm Stevenage announced the match had been “c...Full Story »

Wigan secured a first Sky Bet League One victory in five thanks to a comprehensive 2-0 victory over rock-bottom Carlisle at the DW Stadium.The visitors – backed by an incredible travelling support of more than 4,000 – were bruised aside by a Wigan side who hit a post inside two minutes thanks to Liam Morrison.Josh Magennis opened the scoring in the 16th minute from the penalty spot a...Full Story »