With no Championship football this weekend due to the international break, League’s One and Two took centre-stage for the second time this season in the Football League.
The entertainment value did not suffer despite the missing division. League One chipped in with 28 of the goals across the two leagues, while League Two provided the remaining 24. This week’s Football League Roundup takes a look at those who supplied that little bit extra.
Football League Roundup: Week Ten
Cobblers hit for six at Home
Northampton had seemed to be improving under Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink. The former Chelsea star took over as manager at the start of September, replacing Justin Edinburgh, and his team picked up seven points from his first three matches.
Since then, their form has stuttered again and it reached a new low on Saturday when Bristol Rovers visited Sixfields.
The Pirates must have thought a win was on the cards when they lead 1-0 at the break. However, they surely could not have expected the 6-0 rout that ensued.
Billy Bodin put the visitors in front, firing an excellent strike into the far corner after good work from Rory Gaffney on the flank.
Rovers could have doubled their lead before the break when they were awarded a penalty, but Tom Nichols’ poor spot-kick was kept out by Matt Ingram.
Ellis Harrison’s quick-fire double made sure of the points for Darrell Clarke’s side. The first was a wonderful header from Liam Sercombe’s cross and the second a well-placed finish from outside of the box.
Things went from bad to worse for the home side, as Alex Revell was shown a straight red card for catching Tom Broadbent in the face when both were challenging for a header.
Gaffney then fired in a fourth after Nichols’ shot hit the post, before Liam Sercombe’s volley bounced in off the crossbar to make it five.
Dom Telford rounded off the victory with four minutes left, flicking in from Marc Bola’s cross.
Wright’s Winner Seals Derby win for Cheltenham
Cheltenham moved to within two points of Swindon after Danny Wright’s stoppage time winner sealed victory over their near neighbours.
It took 20 minutes before the hosts broke the deadlock. Harry Pell burst down the right-hand side, and his cross was excellently tucked away by Brian Graham.
The visitors equalised eight minutes into the second half when Matt Preston jumped highest to loop Matt Taylor’s free-kick into the net.
The Robins were given the opportunity to regain the lead straight away when they were awarded a penalty for James Dunne’s foul, but substitute Wright had his effort saved by Reice Charles-Cook in the opposing goal.
Wright made amends in stoppage time however, blasting into the roof of the net after Carl Winchester nodded down a free-kick to seal the points for Gary Johnson’s side.
Elsewhere…
In League One, Doncaster and Bradford were the other big winners as they both recorded 4-1 victories. Darren Ferguson’s Rovers beat Southend at home while the Bantams took the three points away from MK Dons.
Oxford United continued to improve on their recent slump by putting three past AFC Wimbledon. Wes Thomas, Ricardinho and Xemi Fernandez were all on target for the U’s.
Fleetwood and Wigan were both 2-1 away victors, against Plymouth and Scunthorpe respectively.
Walsall held league leaders Shrewsbury to a 1-1 draw at home, however the visitors remain the only unbeaten side in the EFL.
Finally, Richard Wood’s goal was enough for Rotherham to secure just their second away victory since April 2016 as they beat Rochdale.
In League Two, Ebere Eze’s spectacular brace helped Wycombe on their way to a 3-1 victory away at Cambridge. The hosts finished the game with ten men after Leon Legge’s dismissal.
Luton ended Accrington’s home scoring run as they recorded a 2-0 victory in Lancashire. James Collins and Danny Hylton got the goals.
Colchester and Newport both recorded 2-0 successes at home as they beat Mansfield and Yeovil. Lincoln and Grimsby were also victorious as they both won 2-1; Lincoln beat Chesterfield at home whereas Grimsby won at Port Vale.
Notts County were held to a 1-1 draw by Forest Green, Crawley needed just a single goal to win away at Morecambe and Exeter’s long trip to Carlisle was worth it as Pierce Sweeney scored the only goal at Brunton Park.
The Championship returns next weekend with two games on Friday to kick-start the weekend. Cardiff travel to Birmingham City whereas Bristol City host Burton Albion. A full programme from all three leagues then takes place, bar Nottingham Forest’s trip to Derby on Sunday.
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