Ode to joy in Sanmi’s first game
SUPER-SUB Alex Mowatt made an instant impact as Oxford made it back-to-back wins with a 1-0 victory over Blackpool.
He came off the bench in the 78th minute and his first touch was to send over a free-kick that Jon Obika met with a glancing header – the forward’s seventh goal of the season.
Northampton ended a three-game losing streak to give their survival hopes a timely boost with a 3-1 win over Southend.
Three defeats on the spin had left the Cobblers deep in the relegation mire but they moved to within two points of safety thanks to goals from John-Joe O’Toole, Matt Grimes and Alex Revell.
Jason Demetriou replied with a penalty.
Toumani Diagouraga’s spectacular diving header sent Plymouth on their way to a 3-0 home win over bottom club Bury.
Graham Carey followed up his saved penalty to calmly clip the ball in.
And Antoni Sarcevic smashed a third after Ryan Lowe was shown red for a foul on keeper Remi Matthews.
Arsenal loanee Stephy Mavididi’s strike secured Charlton their first victory in nine league games in a 1-0 Valley triumph over strugglers Oldham. Cheltenham Colchester Chesterfield at Forest Green
1-0 win over Port Vale.
The victory snapped their five-game losing streak and edged Rovers out of the relegation zone.
Grimsby saw their winless run stretch to six games after Morecambe triumphed 2-0 at Blundell Park.
Kevin Ellison put the Shrimps in front before Steven Old nodded in Morecambe’s second four minutes before the break.
ALAN PARDEW breathed a sigh of relief as West Brom avoided an upset to end their 21-game winless run.
Salomon Rondon and Jay Rodriguez both scored their fifth goals of the season to seal Pardew’s first victory as boss – at the ninth attempt.
They could even afford Hal Robson-Kanu to miss a penalty as they clinched their first win since beating Exeter’s League Two rivals Accrington Stanley in the Carabao Cup in August.
Pardew said: “It’s a sigh of relief for me and my coaching staff.
“Our focus is very much on the next Premier League game but a lot of things we have put in place came to fruition, which was the most pleasing thing.
“There was no hopping or jumping around after. We were expected to win here and the important thing was we did.”
He seemed unsure whether Jonny Evans – who was rested yesterday as “a precaution” due to a foot injury – will stay for their relegation scrap after being linked with a move away.
Asked if the defender will still be at Albion at the end of this month, Pardew said: “I think so, I don’t know. It’s very difficult in this window.”
They were soon at ease after scoring their quickest goal this season – in any competition – in the 70th second.
James McClean’s left-wing cross to the edge of the area fell to Rondon, who hit a first-time shot into the top corner which Exeter goalkeeper Christy Pym got a faint touch to.
Kieran Gibbs limped off in the 10th minute – a worry for the crunch run-in – and Chris Brunt reverted to left-back.
Exeter were nervous at the back and when Troy ArchibaldHenville and Dan Seaborne failed to clear Robson-Kanu’s cross in the 25th minute, Rodriguez reacted quickest and lashed in from close range.
The visitors blew two golden chances to extend their lead before the break. Pym denied McClean and then – when the latter was tripped – RobsonKanu lamely hit his penalty too close to the Exeter keeper.
West Brom then had a lucky escape in first-half injury time when Jayden Stockley hit the post from a yard out.
The Exeter top-scorer, who broke his nose on New Year’s Day but was passed fit to play, was guilty of missing a sitter after Baggies keeper Ben Foster spilled Liam McAlinden’s left-wing cross.
Exeter were better in the second half. Foster saved Lee Holmes’ shot at the near post and Dean Moxey later hit over as the Baggies finished the game on the back foot.
Exeter manager Paul Tisdale said: “The goal in the first minute changed everything. We didn’t have enough connection as team in the first half.”