Nigel Clough was delighted with League Two leaders Mansfield’s fast start as they crushed Bradford 5-1 at Valley Parade.The Stags scored four goals before half-time to bounce back in style from a midweek loss to Tranmere.Manager Clough said: “It was an outstanding performance, result, the goals, everything.“I was a bit disappointed we conceded one because I didn’t think w...Full Story »

Derby head coach Paul Warne applauded goalkeeper Joe Wildsmith for his part in a crucial 1-0 victory over League One promotion rivals Bolton.Wildsmith made several outstanding saves before Kane Wilson’s header settled a tense contest at a packed Pride Park.Bolton will look back on several moments, notably when Jon Dadi Bodvarsson’s 17th-minute header was brilliantly saved by Wildsmit...Full Story »

Charlton boss Nathan Jones was left less than impressed with the state of the Fleetwood pitch after their 1-1 draw.Blustery conditions made it difficult for both sides but Ryan Graydon came off the bench to salvage a point for battling Fleetwood as his 84th-minute strike cancelled out Alfie May’s opener at Highbury.“It was just brutal really, a brutal game,” reflected Jones.&ld...Full Story »

Graham Coughlan is refusing to focus too much attention on the Sky Bet League Two play-off chase, despite seeing his Newport side close in on their fellow contenders with a 2-0 victory at AFC Wimbledon.Goals from Bryn Morris and Kyle Jameson allowed the Exiles, beaten play-off finalists in 2019 and 2021, to move within two points of the seventh-placed Dons, who they have a game in hand on.Result...Full Story »

Rob Edwards promised Luton would continue to fight for their Premier League lives after Luke Berry’s late goal salvaged a 1-1 draw against fellow strugglers Nottingham Forest at the end of a “challenging week”.After watching his side throw away a three-goal half-time lead against Bournemouth in midweek to lose, the 41-year-old was facing a six-point gap to Forest opening up in ...Full Story »

Des Buckingham was hungry for more goals despite efforts from Ciaron Brown and Josh Murphy earning Oxford a 2-0 win at Port Vale that moved them into the play-offs.Brown’s 16th-minute strike lashed the U’s into the lead, before Murphy’s cross-shot nestled in the far corner to settle the scoring four minutes into the second half.Billy Bodin had an early effort swept off the line...Full Story »

Crewe manager Lee Bell was “furious” with his side’s first-half display as they fell to a 3-1 defeat against fellow promotion-chasers MK Dons.Despite an early equaliser from Elliot Nevitt, Matt Dennis’s second goal and a Stephen Wearne strike saw the hosts soar to fourth in the table.Bell reflected on a dismal first-half showing from his side, noting how they did not come...Full Story »

Swindon interim boss Gavin Gunning branded his side’s first-half display “abysmal” as they went down 2-1 at home to Doncaster.Goals from Maxime Biamou and Hakeeb Adelakun had Rovers 2-0 in front at the break, with Paul Glatzel’s second-half consolation all the hosts could muster.Gunning said: “You have got to scratch your head, I mean the first half was abysmal.&ldq...Full Story »

Shrewsbury boss Paul Hurst said he had a feeling Daniel Udoh would get on the scoresheet again after his goal earned a 1-0 victory over rock-bottom Carlisle.Udoh made the breakthrough five minutes before time, holding off numerous defenders before turning and converting at Harry Lewis’ near post.The 27-year-old missed a chance to add a second late on but his first-half effort proved enough...Full Story »

Reading manager Ruben Selles praised the strong character of his players for brushing aside the club’s off-field worries to secure a vital 4-0 League One victory over Cambridge.Goals from Sam Smith and Femi Azeez gave Reading, who are still beset by constant cash-flow problems, a commanding half-time lead and they cruised past Cambridge after the break with further efforts from Lewis Wing ...Full Story »

Vincent Kompany stressed Burnley have “total belief” after his relegation-threatened side beat 10-man Brentford 2-1 at Turf Moor for their first win in 11 Premier League games.The Clarets took the lead through a 10th-minute Jacob Bruun Larsen penalty awarded for a foul on Vitinho by Sergio Reguilon, who received a straight red card.David Datro Fofana, having been guilty of a remarkab...Full Story »

John Mousinho hailed a player he dropped for helping Portsmouth take another big step towards the Championship with a 1-0 win at Peterborough.The Pompey chief left out two-goal midweek hero Kusini Yengi for a crunch clash at promotion rivals Peterborough.But the Australian ace responded by climbing off the bench to grab the only goal that kept Portsmouth five points clear at the summit.Yengi, se...Full Story »

Exeter manager Gary Caldwell hailed a terrific team performance as his 10 men took a giant leap towards League One safety with a 1-0 win over Burton at St James Park.Reece Cole struck the only goal of the game, in the 41st minute, before Exeter’s Zak Jules was sent off as the players walked down the tunnel at half-time for an incident unseen.But Exeter dug deep and held firm as Burton pres...Full Story »

Ebullient Sutton boss Steve Morison lauded his struggling League Two side after a crucial 1-0 relegation dogfight victory at Forest Green.Josh Coley’s first-half goal claimed the points, leaving bottom-of-the-table Sutton a lifeline with what Morison labelled “seven cup finals” to go.Morison said: “Confidence with the boys is fantastic and I thought we were better from th...Full Story »

Stephen Clemence praised his Gillingham players for salvaging a point at home to relegation battlers Grimsby after a sickness bug had ravaged the squad.George Lapslie equalised two minutes after Donovan Wilson’s early opener for the Mariners, with both managers accepting that a draw was a fair result.Clemence admitted afterwards that getting anything out of the game was a good outcome cons...Full Story »

John Eustace says Blackburn have shown they are “ready for the fight” in the Sky Bet Championship relegation battle after a hard-earned goalless draw at Middlesbrough.It was a sixth draw in eight games for Rovers, who are still waiting for their first win since Eustace took charge – but the manager was delighted with the display at the Riverside and felt his side deserved more....Full Story »

Lincoln boss Michael Skubala hailed his free-scoring side after they hammered Bristol Rovers 5-0.The impressive Imps took their recent tally to 16 goals in three games with another fine display at Sincil Bank.Luton loanee Joe Taylor will get the plaudits for a first professional hat-trick, sandwiched between captain Paudie O’Connor’s opener and Reeco Hackett’s late fifth.Anthon...Full Story »

Interim Aberdeen boss Peter Leven was delighted after his side dug deep to defeat Motherwell and give themselves some breathing space in the cinch Premiership relegation battle.Leighton Clarkson netted the only goal of the game after 25 minutes, before the Dons survived a disallowed goal and a last-gasp penalty claim.Aberdeen’s first league win in 12 games moved them into ninth place, thou...Full Story »

Derek McInnes hailed the mentality of his Kilmarnock players after their stunning comeback win over St Mirren.Killie trailed by two goals at the interval but they produced an incredible comeback as they scored five goals in 18 minutes to secure a 5-2 triumph to overtake St Mirren in fourth in the cinch Premiership table.Captain Kyle Vassell scored twice with Marley Watkins, Danny Armstrong and D...Full Story »

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers hailed the “excellent” Kyogo Furuhashi after the recalled striker scored and provided an assist in a 3-1 win over St Johnstone.The Japanese forward also had two goals disallowed for offside as Celtic moved back to the top of the cinch Premiership, at least until Rangers face Dundee at Dens Park on Sunday.Furuhashi has been unable to replicate the prolif...Full Story »