Southend to the four as Chesterfield look down

CHESTERFIELD were nudged closer to relegation after a 4-0 humbling at home to play-off hopefuls SOUTHEND. The Spireites were already 1-0 down, through Simon Cox’s penalty, when Dion Donohue was sent off for clattering Jason Demetriou, and they fell further behind to Cox’s second goal and strikes from Anthony Wordsworth and Marc-Antoine Fortune. Chesterfield are nine points from safety with three fixtures left and their goal difference of -31 is 17 worse than Bury in the final survival spot. Southend remain in seventh, one point outside the play-offs, after sixth-placed MILLWALL won 3-0 against NORTHAMPTON. Two goals from Jed Wallace and another from Aiden O’Brien secured victory. FLEETWOOD, who are third, kept up their hopes of automatic promotion by winning 2-1 at PETERBOROUGH. Bobby Grant and Ashley Eastham scored first-half goals before Craig MackailSmith replied for the hosts. BRADFORD strengthened their prospects with a 1-0 win over OXFORD, courtesy of Nicky Law. They stay level on points with Fleetwood and are four behind Bolton, who face Oldham today. SCUNTHORPE’S 1-0 win at MK DONS keeps them two points further back in fifth. Ivan Toney scored the game’s only goal. SWINDON and PORT VALE’s survival hopes suffered further blows. The former, in 22nd spot, drew 0-0 at home to AFC WIMBLEDON while 21st-placed Vale lost 3-0 at home to champions SHEFFIELD UNITED. Fellow relegation candidates SHREWSBURY remain 19th after drawing 1-1 at home to WALSALL. Kieron Morris put the visitors in front before Stefan Payne levelled. And two Cody McDonald goals ensured GILLINGHAM moved up to 17th, closer to survival, in a 3-1 win at home against BRISTOL ROVERS.