Exeter boss Matt Taylor lauded Kieran Phillips’ “poacher’s finish” against Bradford and believes his first goal for the club will do the on-loan Huddersfield striker the power of good.Phillips, 21, scored in only his third appearance for the promotion-chasing Grecians, having hit the target just four times in 26 league outings for Walsall, where he spent the first half of...Full Story »

Craig Gordon drew the plaudits from both managers after his penalty shoot-out heroics saw Hearts into the Scottish Cup quarter-finals.Scotland goalkeeper Gordon was the hero after saving from Ayo Obileye to send the Gorgie outfit through 4-3 on penalties following 120 minutes of goalless action, and Hearts boss Robbie Neilson said his presence in goal was a huge factor.He said: “If I was a...Full Story »

Harry Cardwell headed the winner as Southend held off a Woking fightback to claim a 3-2 victory in their National League clash at the Kingfield Stadium.The hosts had battled back from 2-0 down with a double early in the second half from Inih Effiong.Jason Demetriou opened the scoring for Southend after eight minutes when he pounced from close range before new signing Callum Powell doubled the le...Full Story »

Raheem Sterling hit a hat-trick to continue his fine form against Norwich as Manchester City eased to victory at Carrow Road and moved 12 points clear at the top of the Premier League.With closest challengers Liverpool not in action until Sunday, Pep Guardiola was able to make five changes and still see his league leaders record a comfortable 4-0 win.The visitors created plenty of chances before...Full Story »

Liam Manning thinks MK Dons and Ipswich served up the perfect advert for Sky Bet League One football as they played out an entertaining goalless draw.The promotion-chasing hosts were unable to maintain the pressure on the top two places as Kieran McKenna’s Ipswich came close to snatching it at the death.Dons goalkeeper Jamie Cumming pulled off a string of fine saves as Wes Burns, Bersant C...Full Story »

Charlton boss Johnnie Jackson felt Wigan took advantage of a huge early turning point to edge an entertaining Sky Bet League One encounter at the DW Stadium.The Addicks led through Elliot Lee’s seventh-minute goal when former Wigan man Alex Gilbey hit the bar from 18 yards.Wigan recovered their composure and levelled through Will Keane’s penalty on 26 minutes, after Callum Lang was f...Full Story »

Luton manager Nathan Jones felt the Birmingham fans’ tennis ball protest affected his side as they slipped to a 3-0 defeat at St Andrew’s.The game was halted briefly in the 14th minute when home supporters protesting against the club’s owners threw dozens of tennis balls on to the pitch.Juninho Bacuna opened the scoring not long after play resumed with his first for the club be...Full Story »

Under-fire Reading manager Veljko Paunovic praised his club’s fans despite their protests before and after the 3-2 Sky Bet Championship defeat at home to Coventry.It was relegation-threatened Reading’s seventh league defeat in a row.Lucas Joao headed home in the 23rd minute to give Reading the lead but Coventry levelled in first-half stoppage time through Dominic Hyam.Defender Michae...Full Story »

Steve Cooper stood by Brice Samba following the “huge error” which saw the goalkeeper receive a late red card and also praised the character of his players after 10-man Nottingham Forest salvaged a 2-2 draw with Stoke.Stoke had looked to be on course for three points after Samba conceded a penalty and earned himself a red card in the 88th minute for swatting Stoke defender Phil Jagie...Full Story »

Danny Cowley felt his Portsmouth players were rewarded for showing more bravery after scoring four second-half goals to beat lowly Doncaster 4-0 in League One.The home side ran riot after half-time having been frustrated in the opening 45 minutes, with debutant Aiden O’Brien adding his name to the scoresheet a minute after coming off the bench.Head coach Cowley said: “It was a hard-f...Full Story »

St Mirren manager Jim Goodwin hailed his side’s professional performance as they defeated Kelty Hearts 4-0 to book their place in the Scottish Cup quarter-finals.Goals from Alex Greive, Jordan Jones and a double from Greg Kiltie saw the home side ease past the cinch League Two league leaders.Goodwin said: “It was a really good afternoon for us. Everything about it was just perfect to...Full Story »

Crawley head coach John Yems had no doubt Hartlepool striker Omar Bogle should have been sent off well before he hit the decisive goal.Bogle escaped with a booking for a foul on Jack Payne in the 13th minute and the incident so infuriated Yems he argued with referee Brett Huxtable on the final whistle and was shown a red card after first receiving a yellow.Former Birmingham, Cardiff and Wigan fo...Full Story »

Bristol Rovers boss Joey Barton insisted his side were denied a ‘stonewall’ penalty during their goalless draw with in-form Mansfield.John-Joe O’Toole’s 64th-minute challenge on Aaron Collins inside the box provided the only major talking point at the Memorial Stadium as Nigel Clough’s Mansfield stretched their unbeaten League Two run to 11 games.Collins was convinc...Full Story »

Frank Lampard declared himself “absolutely delighted” while also stressing that “it’s only a start” after Everton recorded their first Premier League win under him by beating Leeds 3-0 at Goodison Park.The Toffees went 2-0 up in the first half thanks to headers from Seamus Coleman and fellow defender Michael Keane in the 10th and 23rd minutes respectively.Rodrigo st...Full Story »

Stranraer enjoyed a return to winning ways following successive defeats with a 2-1 cinch League Two victory over Elgin at Borough Briggs.Matty Yates gave the visitors an 11th-minute lead when he slotted home from the penalty spot after being fouled himself and Michael Mullen added a second with 15 minutes left.Darryl McHardy pulled a goal back for Elgin in the 89th minute put it was too little t...Full Story »

Peterborough boss Darren Ferguson admitted his side can’t catch a break after their latest loss against Preston was inflicted by a player he tried to sign.The Championship strugglers were unable to land Cameron Archer on loan from Aston Villa in January.But the highly-rated hotshot was then allowed to move to Preston and he struck his third goal in four North End starts to sink Ferguson&rs...Full Story »

Millwall manager Gary Rowett brushed off Cardiff’s calls for a second-half penalty after his side edged the Welsh club 2-1.The Lions took a while to get going at The Den – they were booed off at the end of a poor first half – and hearts would have been in mouths when Tommy Doyle’s shot appeared to hit Jake Cooper’s arm soon after the restart.Nothing was given, howev...Full Story »

Walsall caretaker boss Neil McDonald admitted the Saddlers were relieved to “stop the rot” after a 1-0 victory over Tranmere halted a run of seven successive League Two defeats.That run had cost rookie head coach Matt Taylor his job in midweek but Conor Wilkinson’s late penalty settled a drab affair to earn Walsall a first win in two months.Victory also gives them some breathin...Full Story »

Manager Marco Silva felt Championship leaders Fulham showed another side to their game in the 1-0 win at Hull.Silva’s team were not at their free-flowing best but they had the strength of character when it mattered to claim three points against determined opponents.Aleksander Mitrovic’s 57th-minute header – his 31st goal of the season – was enough to keep Fulham six point...Full Story »

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink was left frustrated after seeing his side twice throw away the lead and have to settle for a 2-2 draw with Cambridge.Albion got off to an ideal start when Gassan Ahadme won and converted a penalty from the first attack of the game, but Cambridge equalised through Harvey Knibbs’ hooked finish.William Kokolo restored Albion’s lead in the second half, only for Sa...Full Story »