RESULT! Morris dancing as Iron move five clear
BILLY SHARP’S brace at Bradford could not give Sheffield United the win as the Yorkshire thriller sent Scunthorpe five points clear.
Sharp made it four goals in two games either side of Billy Clarke’s effort for Bradford.
But Jordy Hiwula and Timothee Dieng gave the Bantams the lead before Chris Basham forced home to make it 3-3.
And the Iron made the most of the dropped points as Josh Morris, Kevin van Veen and Sam Mantom struck to beat Chesterfield 3-0. AFC Wimbledon burst into the play-off places as Tom Elliott’s 10th-minute strike secured a 1-0 win at Peterborough.
The Dons are unbeaten in eight games and sit 14 places above rivals MK Dons, who suffered a 3-0 home defeat to Southend, with Simon Cox and an Anthony Wordsworth double securing the victory.
Charlie Colkett and Jake Clarke-Salter scored as Bristol Rovers beat Oldham 2-0 to reach sixth place, while Port Vale slipped out of the play-off spots despite battling to force a 2-2 home draw with Oxford. Coventry celebrated back-to-back wins for the first time this season as Dan Agyei and substitute Andre Wright condemned Rochdale to a 2-0 defeat.
With the Sky Blues nearing an escape from the drop zone, Swindon slipped to the brink of the bottom four following a 2-0 home loss to Walsall in which Erhun Oztumer scored twice. Northampton claimed a first victory in five attempts in style by beating Shrewsbury 4-2.
Gabriel Zakuani and Paul Anderson (left) got the Cobblers off to a flying start before the first of two Ivan Toney penalties gave the Shrews a chance.
Sam Hoskins and Anderson made the points safe after the break, leaving Toney to tuck away a consolation spot-kick at the death.
Two Lee Gregory strikes from the spot saw Millwall get past Fleetwood 2-1, with Ashley Hunter notching for the Cod Army late on.
And in stoppage time at the Priestfield, Nicky Ajose’s penalty cancelled out Bradley Dack’s opener as Gillingham drew 1-1 with Charlton.
The visitors had to soak up plenty of pressure but were good value for the victory given to t hem by Alex Bap t i s t e ’ s second-half header.
Alex Neil’s Canaries were guilty of some terrible marking as the defender found the back of the net from a free-kick.
And they were shot-shy at the other end, although Cameron Jerome saw an effort come back off the woodwork.
Delighted Preston boss Simon Grayson said: “Obviously I am thrilled to bits with the win.
“When you play a good team like Norwich you need all your players to go out there and do the job that is required of them and that’s exactly what happened today.
“We defended really well and we also posed a threat to them as well and had plenty of chances over the course of the game.
“I am really proud of each and every one of the players and I am also pleased for the travelling fans. Hopefully this will make a very long journey home seem a little bit shorter.”
Grayson’s opposite number, Norwich boss Neil, admitted that his side’s defending cost them the game.
He said: “It was really, really sloppy. We have defended set-pieces well all game and then we allow Baptiste to have a free run from a central area and head the ball in.
“In those sort of situations defending players have to take individual responsibility to get there first and get their heads on it and that didn’t happen.
“We had a lot of possession but that means nothing if you don’t make full use of it. We needed to do more with the ball today. It was really disappointing.”
The in-form hosts almost got off to a sensational start.
Lilywhites keeper Chris Maxwell produced an excellent stop to keep out Jerome’s drive after 14 seconds. The visitors also had a good early chance to take the lead when Ben Pringle put Jordan Hugill clear, only for Michael McGovern to make a smart block.
But it was the hosts who had the better of the early stages.
Graham Dorrans twice tested Maxwell as the Canaries started to turn the screw.
But with Preston looking organised at the back, it was proving hard work for a team who had swept aside virtually all before them at Carrow Road.
A long-range effort from Alex Tettey, which was saved, was as good as it got for Norwich.
At the other end, McGovern had to be alert to snuff out the danger when Callum Robinson t hreatened t o bundle t he ball home.
The Preston forward then fired a volley just wide as the visitors started the second half brightly.
The warning shot forced City boss Neil t o react and h e made a d o u b l e substitution, with Nelson Oliveira and A l e x P r i t c hard entering the fray on 56 minutes.
And Pritchard finally gave the home crowd something to cheer shortly after.
His curling free- kick was tipped behind by Maxwell but the smiles did not last with Preston t aking t he l e ad on 75 minutes.
The visitors won a free-kick near the right-hand corner flag and Daniel Johnson whipped t he ball in t owards t he waiting Baptiste, who was in acres of s pace t o power a header home.
Norwich almost equalised immediately when a shot from Jerome hit the upright.
And the striker was denied again by desperate defending from Bailey Wright as he tried to convert from close range.