Shutout thrills Grayson
MARK ROBINS admitted Coventry probably would have lost this game last season.
Dom Hyam’s (below) 26th-minute goal separated the two sides as the Sky Blues continued their unbeaten start.
City manager Robins said: “The first half was okay; the second half won’t live long in the memory but, ultimately, the three points PETERBOROUGH boss Darren Ferguson believes there is even more to come from his side.
Mo Eisa’s double and Marcus Maddison and Ivan Toney strikes secured a dominant win at MK Dons.
“It was a complete performance, but I do feel there is more to come,” said away boss Ferguson.
“I was pleased with another clean sheet too, because we know we have goals in us.”
MK Dons manager Paul Tisdale said: “It is a lesson for us in all sorts of respects.”
Coventry 1 Gillingham 0 MK Dons 0 Peterborough 4
were hard fought. Last season I think we probably lose that game. Off the back of
Tuesday’s game [against Portsmouth] I thought it was a really good three points.”
Gillingham manager Steve Evans said: “In the second half there is one team trying to score a goal, but you can’t turn up and play just for 45 m minutes, not in Le League One.
“Credit to Coventry and their players, they are a g good side.”
Former Bury striker Maguire sealed the Black Cats’ third League One win in a row with his first hat-trick for the club.
Manager Ross (above) said: “I speak a lot to Chris because he’s a little bit of an enigma at times.
“He has real quality about his play and with the quality he has, he should always be in my team. That’s my message for him.”
His goals were watched by the group of American investors – Glenn Fuhrman, John Phelan and Robert Platek – who are on the verge of taking over the Wearside club.
And Sunderland manager Ross was delighted with the way his side won – even if he wasn’t thinking about having new overlords at the club.
Ross added: “I’ve not met them, no.
“My focus was very much on trying to prepare the team for today.
“It’s OK for me. It’s never quiet around here!
“I don’t think a day goes by SIMON GRAYSON believes his Blackpool side can take huge confidence from their goalless draw at Rochdale as they bid to maintain their unbeaten start.
Dale keeper Robert Sanchez was all that denied the Seasiders as he kept out Armand Gnanduillet in the first half and Callum Guy in the second. “It was a frustrating result, but a when I don’t have to deal with something.”
Maguire opened the scoring with an eighth- minute chip over Nathan Trott, before Kwesi Appiah levelled for the visitors.
But Maguire drove in a deflected effort before heading the third 11 minutes from time.
Dons boss Wally Downes said: “We didn’t help ourselves by conceding in the second half very early. With the resources Sunderland have, definitely they’ll be challenging again.” SUNDERLAND AFCWIM’DON 7 ........ Shots on Target .......... 1 4 ........Shots off Target ......... 2 10 ...............Corners ................. 2 9 ..................Fouls .................... 9 3 ............... Offsides .................2 81.7 .Passing Success% ...61.6 520 ...... Total Passes .........255 66.9 .... Possession% ........33.1 52.4 . Territorial Adv%.... 47.6
Rochdale 0 Blackpool 0
very good performance,” said Blackpool boss Grayson.
“Their goalkeeper was man of the match and we just couldn’t find a way of breaking them down, even though it was probably one of the best performances of the season so far.
“There were a lot of positives to the performance and this was always going to be a tough test. We had spoken about this being our hardest game of the season so far.” Dale boss Brian Barry-murphy believes Blackpool are a different proposition this season.
“I’m very pleased with a point, Blackpool are a very strong team, they have acquired good players. They are a very different beast to the team they were last season,” he said.
“It was a great clean sheet and we are honest enough to admit that we didn’t hit the heights of recent weeks.”