Brazil legend Pele died on Thursday from cancer complications. Lauded by many as the greatest player to ever play football, Pele had been battling health issues in recent years. He was pictured in a wheelchair at the 2018 World Cup and was taken into hospital after collapsing due to exhaustion a month after the tournament. He had been receiving regular treatment from doctors ever since under...Full Story »

Plymouth boss Steven Schumacher was delighted to see his side start the second half of their League One season with a 1-0 home win over in-form Wycombe.Dan Scarr’s 33rd-minute volley from Adam Randell’s corner settled the contest.“It’s been a brilliant first half of the season and we are all proud of what’s happened, but it was important we got the second half of th...Full Story »

Sheffield Wednesday manager Darren Moore praised his team’s resilience after two goals from Michael Smith saw them beat Port Vale 2-0 to maintain their push for promotion.Smith was on target from the penalty spot in the 30th minute and added a second goal after 70 minutes.Moore said: “It was a satisfying win. A real tight game. I was really pleased with the resilience shown.“I ...Full Story »

Bristol Rovers manager Joey Barton has defended his decision to order his players to change their kit midway through a dramatic 4-3 defeat by Exeter at the Memorial Ground.The Gas were trailing 2-0 to the Grecians when Barton intervened and told his players to change out of the third-choice shirts they had sported in support of homeless charity Shelter in favour of the club’s blue-and-whit...Full Story »

Head coach Carlos Corberan hailed Okay Yokuslu’s “unusually high level of intensity” as his two goals ensured West Brom’s revival continued with a 2-0 win over Preston at The Hawthorns.The Turkish midfielder helped the Baggies make it seven wins in eight games to move to within a point of the Sky Bet Championship play-off places, having been bottom of the table two months...Full Story »

Huddersfield boss Mark Fotheringham has urged his improving team to keep ‘breaking barriers’ in their battle to survive.Speaking after a second straight victory – 2-0 at home against Yorkshire rivals Rotherham which lifted them off the bottom of the Sky Bet Championship table – Fotheringham was delighted after what had been a hugely disappointing opening half-an-hour from...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 »

Sunderland manager Tony Mowbray was refusing to get carried away despite seeing his side move up to fourth in the Sky Bet Championship after winning 4-1 at Wigan.The sides were level at the break, after Wigan’s Will Keane had cancelled out Ellis Simms’ opener.But three goals in the last 25 minutes from Ross Stewart (penalty), Patrick Roberts and Amad Diallo were enough to propel Sund...Full Story »

Cheltenham boss Wade Elliott praised Dan Nlundulu after his first goal since mid-September sealed a 1-0 win at Shrewsbury.It was the Southampton loanee’s fifth goal of the season in all competitions, but he had endured a long wait for a Sky Bet League One strike.The moment arrived late in the first period as he touched in Ryan Jackson’s cross at the near post to earn the Robins a bat...Full Story »

Nigel Pearson urged his Bristol City players to use their performance in the 0-0 draw at Millwall as a benchmark for the rest of the season.The visitors grabbed a crucial point at The Den to bounce back from their 2-0 Boxing Day defeat against West Brom but have now won just once in nine Championship matches.Captain Andreas Weimann should have snatched a late winner after Millwall’s Andrea...Full Story »

Middlesbrough boss Michael Carrick was delighted with Riley McGree’s winner after his side moved into the Championship top six with a 2-1 victory at 10-man Blackburn.McGree, who was part of Australia’s World Cup squad, completed his side’s comeback by rounding off a brilliant team move with a controlled volley into the top corner.Rovers had taken the lead through Ryan Hedges&rs...Full Story »

Danny Schofield was delighted with the show of character from his Doncaster side as they edged a seven-goal thriller with Rochdale 4-3.Rovers recovered after being pegged back from 2-0 and 3-2 up as Tom Anderson netted an 81st-minute winner.Two goals inside the first nine minutes from Charlie Seaman and Ben Close had Rovers in command only for Dale to fight back.A brilliant Harrison Biggins free...Full Story »

Manager Micky Mellon praised revitalised Tranmere’s positivity that turned one point into three despite going down to 10 men at Barrow.The sides were locked at 1-1 after 77 minutes when Paul Lewis was red carded for a dangerous challenge on home goalkeeper Josh Lillis.But five minutes later Rovers captain Kane Hemmings netted his sixth goal of the season – his second in successive ga...Full Story »

Mark Robins spoke of his devastation after it was announced after Coventry’s 0-0 draw with Cardiff on Thursday night that Sky Blues midfielder Callum O’Hare ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament on Boxing Day against Sheffield United.The 24-year-old was hurt inside the first 10 minutes at Bramall Lane after an innocuous landing and will now be out for a minimum of nine months.The f...Full Story »

Salford boss Neil Wood praised hat-trick hero Matt Smith after his clinical display helped gun down Grimsby in Sky Bet League Two.Smith set the tone with a first-minute opener and scored twice more before half-time in a convincing 4-1 win for the promotion chasers.Ethan Galbraith also netted, with Otis Khan replying for the mid-table hosts at Blundell Park.Wood said: “Matt Smith ...Full Story »

Sutton United boss Matt Gray was delighted to finally have a late goal go his side’s way after a dramatic 2-1 win over Gillingham.Robbie McKenzie had seemingly salvaged a point for the League Two strugglers when he cancelled out team-mate Elkan Baggott’s own goal on the stroke of half-time.But Craig Eastmond’s 93rd-minute winner condemned the basement boys to a third straight l...Full Story »

Barnsley assistant Martin Paterson praised his side for finding a way to win against Fleetwood.Robbie Cundy’s late header from Luca Connell’s corner secured a 2-1 victory after James Norwood’s opener had been cancelled out by an Admiral Muskwe penalty.Paterson said: “In the first half we had two or three opportunities that we should have scored.“The test for the pla...Full Story »

Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna had mixed emotions after his automatic promotion hopefuls snatched a late 2-2 draw at Portsmouth.Conor Chaplin scored three minutes from time against his old club to salvage the visitors a point in League One.McKenna said: “I have mixed feelings of course. I think there’s lots to be proud of.“The resilience we showed in coming back from being behind ...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 »

Stockport boss Dave Challinor says his side are “looking up” in 2023 after continuing their superb run with a 2-0 victory at fellow Sky Bet League Two form team Walsall.Kyle Wootton’s double earned the Hatters a seventh win in nine league games to lift them to 10th, having endured a slow start to the season.Wootton steered home a cool first-half opener from Akil Wright’s ...Full Story »

Conor Chaplin scored a late equaliser to rescue Ipswich a point in a 2-2 draw at his old club Portsmouth.Two goals in the opening 11 minutes paved the way for a pulsating night at Fratton Park.Pompey took the lead after four minutes with a 25-yard free-kick from Marlon Pack that curled around the wall and in off a post.Ipswich equalised seven minutes later when a Lee Evans free-kick from the rig...Full Story »

Football League basement club Gillingham suffered the agony of a late 2-1 defeat at Sutton United as Craig Eastmond scored at the death.The visitors were heading for a share of the points until Eastmond’s dramatic winner in the third minute of time added on.Sutton had gone ahead through an Elkan Baggott own goal two minutes before the break, with Robbie McKenzie levelling 12 minutes from t...Full Story »

Paul Simpson was impressed with the way his Carlisle side started both halves in their emphatic 3-0 victory at Crewe.Skipper Morgan Feeney got the Cumbrians on their way with a sixth-minute strike and the struggling Railwaymen were caught out again straight after the interval when Owen Moxon doubled the visitors’ lead.Luke Offord’s red card soon after left Simpson’s men coastin...Full Story »

Johnnie Jackson applauded the character of his AFC Wimbledon side after they came from behind to win 2-1 at Colchester and extend their unbeaten run to 10 matches.Ethan Chislett netted the visitors’ 89th-minute winner from close range after Huseyin Biler’s long-range effort was parried into his path by goalkeeper Kieran O’Hara.Josh Davison had headed the visitors’ equalis...Full Story »

Nigel Clough was pleased to see Mansfield avoid any late slip-ups to secure another three points in the promotion race at struggling Hartlepool.The Stags boss was satisfied to see his players turn the game on its head by scoring two second-half goals to beat Pools at the Suit Direct Stadium.Jack Hamilton had headed Hartlepool ahead in the 19th minute to give the home side hope of a third straigh...Full Story »

Stockport handed Walsall a first defeat in 10 games as Kyle Wootton’s double earned the Hatters a 2-0 win in a battle of Sky Bet League Two’s form sides.County were the better side throughout and Will Collar threatened twice early on but Walsall goalkeeper Owen Evans produced two flying saves to foil his glancing header and fierce 25-yarder.The visitors led in the 33rd minute as Woot...Full Story »

Grant McCann was delighted to see Peterborough take a step back in the right direction with a 2-0 derby victory over MK Dons.McCann’s men bagged a first win for two months as Joe Ward and Ricky-Jade Jones scored either side of half-time to sink struggling Dons.Ward fired the opener in the 38th minute and recalled Jones doubled the advantage three minutes into the second period to lift Posh...Full Story »

Morecambe boss Derek Adams was full of praise for his players after they secured a third Sky Bet League One win of the season with the 2-0 victory over Lancashire rivals Accrington.After seeing first-half goals from Liam Shaw and Jensen Weir clinch the points, Adams said: “It was a terrific performance with superb goals and I thought it was a fabulous display.“It’s five games w...Full Story »

Burton boss Dino Maamria was relieved his side finished 2022 on a high as they moved out of the League One relegation zone with a 2-1 win at fellow strugglers Forest Green.Goals from skipper John Brayford – on his birthday – and Bobby Kamwa wrapped up the victory before Myles Peart-Harris netted a consolation deep into added time for the hosts, who had missed a penalty with the score...Full Story »

Oxford boss Karl Robinson felt his team were back to their best in the first half as they cruised to a 3-1 win over Charlton at the Kassam Stadium.Billy Boden, Matt Taylor and sub Gatlin O’Donkor scored as United bounced back well from the heavy Boxing Day defeat at Ipswich, with Miles Leaburn netting for Charlton.Robinson said: “The way we played in the first half – that was O...Full Story »

Mark Hughes applauded Bradford’s return to form as they bounced back to winning ways against Harrogate at Valley Parade.Their first home win since September ended a run of three consecutive defeats to lift the Bantams back into a play-off place.Tyreik Wright scored the only goal after just 52 seconds, racing on to Brad Halliday’s pass to beat Harrogate goalkeeper Pete Jameson with th...Full Story »

Huddersfield lifted themselves off the bottom of the Sky Bet Championship table thanks to a well-deserved 2-0 victory over Yorkshire rivals Rotherham.Last season’s play-off finalists have laboured through most of this term so far, but this second successive win will offer renewed hope.Rotherham, meanwhile, have now won just once in their last 11 games and were booed off by their fans.Amid ...Full Story »

Michael Smith scored both goals as Sheffield Wednesday beat Port Vale 2-0 to extend their unbeaten Sky Bet League One run to 12 games and maintain their push for promotion.Wednesday skipper Barry Bannan put an early effort over, while at the other end, Gavin Massey forced a save from Cameron Dawson.Wednesday boss Darren Moore was forced to make a change midway through the half when Bannan went o...Full Story »