RESULT! Blades too Sharp as they reach top spot
SHEFFIELD UNITED returned to the top of the League One table after thrashing AFC Wimbledon 4-0 as Scunthorpe slumped to defeat at Southend.
The Blades, who had taken one point from their previous three games, needed just two minutes to go ahead through Billy Sharp (below) and debutant James Hanson doubled their lead before the interval.
John Fleck and Caolan Lavery added further goals late on as United moved two points clear of Scunthorpe, who suffered only their fifth defeat of the season despite taking an early lead at Southend.
Murray Wallace’s header in the fifth minute briefly put Iron on course for a fourth successive league win but the Shrimpers turned things around through goals from Marc-Antoine Fortune, Simon Cox and Ryan Leonard to win 3-1.
But the chasing pack could not keep up the pressure as third-placed Bolton were held 1-1 at MK Dons, thanks to Kieran Agard’s equaliser in the second half.
Fleetwood in fourth also played out a 1-1 draw at Charlton with Amari’i Bell’s dramatic late leveller saving the Cod Army’s 13-game unbeaten run.
Bradford, meanwhile, remain in fifth after a 2-2 home draw with Gillingham while Rochdale clung on to the final play-off spot with a goalless draw against Bristol Rovers.
Peterborough moved above Rovers after earning a 3-0 win at Port Vale, with Marcus Maddison opening the scoring before Junior Morias struck a late double.
Millwall also leapfrogged the Pirates with Jake Cooper and Steve Morison firing them to a 2-0 win at bottom-placed Coventry.
Oldham sent opponents Chesterfield into the bottom two with a 1-0 win courtesy of Peter Clarke’s stoppage-time winner.
The Latics, who played the second half with 10 men after Anthony Gerrard was dismissed, also climbed above Bury after they were beaten 2-1 at Shrewsbury.
Northampton
McClaren was back for the first time since he was sacked as Newcastle boss nearly 11 months ago and was expected to receive some stick from home fans.
But all the attention was on successor Benitez, who on the eve of the game was forced to insist he would not quit despite his intense frustration over the club’s failure to recruit in last month’s transfer window.
“Stand up, if you love Rafa,” the Geordie hordes cried in a pointed message to unpopular club owner Mike Ashley.
Toon winger Matt Ritchie, who was in the Bournemouth side that beat Newcastle 3-1 here last March in McClaren’s final game in charge, grabbed the only goal yesterday in the 27th minute.
It was the Scottish international’s 12th this season and sixth in five games.
The win put Newcastle back on top of the Championship, two points clear of Brighton ahead of their game at Brentford today.
It had been a tough week for the Toon, who crashed out of the FA Cup to Oxford and had a quiet transfer deadline day.
To top it off, they blew the lead twice to draw 2-2 at home to QPR after a last-gasp own goal by Ciaran Clark in midweek.
Then the extent of Benitez’s dissatisfaction emerged to deepen the gloomy mood.
But he was in a better mood yesterday and the Toon boss said: “The fans have been amazing with me for the last year. I’m really pleased with that and I’m happy if they continue singing my name – but especially if they keep supporting the players.
“Because, in the end, if they win, I will win. And if the players win, the fans win.
“I think the positive thing was the communication between the fans and players. It created a very good atmosphere.”
Newcastle badly needed a boost and they made a positive start with Isaac Hayden twice working Rams keeper Scott Carson in the opening minutes.
DeAndre Yedlin slid the ball through to Hayden on the right but Carson saved with his foot.
Then the recalled Aleksandar Mitrovic set up Hayden but his finish was straight at Carson.
Ritchie was grateful to Clark in the 18th minute after playing a suicidal ball across his defence – ex-Sunderland striker Darren Bent only being denied by the centre-back’s interception. Keeper Karl Darlow then had to make a smart save from Johnny Russell’s shot on the turn after Newcastle failed to clear the resultant corner. But Ritchie was soon back in the good books. Mitrovic laid the ball off and the winger’s 20-yarder deflected off Bradley Johnson before looping beyond Carson.
Derby should have been level nine minutes from time when Tom Ince missed an absolute sitter, steering the ball wide with only Darlow to beat on the end of Abdoul Camara’s cross.
And the home side needed Yedlin to head off the line from Bent in the dying moments to seal victory.
Derby boss Steve McClaren said: “It’s a great club here with great supporters. It was always going to be a difficult afternoon but I just focused on the game. We deserved a draw.
“Newcastle have ability in the squad and I expect them to go up as champions.”