Rivals draw to edge closer as Pompey slip
SUNDERLAND and Luton Town shared the points in a 1-1 draw at the Stadium of Light in the big game of the day in League One as both teams ended the match with 10 men.
Victory for the Black Cats would have seen them leapfrog their opponents and move up to second place and they made the perfect start when Chris Maguire scored after 16 minutes.
Luton, who lost manager Nathan Jones this week to Stoke City, levelled in the 67th minute through James Collins’ penalty but, after getting back in the game, Danny Hylton was then sent off three minutes later.
Sunderland were unable to make their numerical advantage count and Maguire also received a red card in added time.
It meant Portsmouth’s lead at the top of the table was trimmed to four points, as Pompey lost 1-0 at home to Blackpool. Chris Long’s 74thminute goal settled the game.
Charlton Athletic and Barnsley were able to narrow the gap to the automatic promotion places as both recorded comfortable 3-0 wins.
Lyle Taylor, Darren Pratley and Karlan Ahearne-Grant, from the penalty spot, were on target in the Addicks’ success away to Shrewsbury Town.
The Tykes defeated Bradford City at Oakwell courtesy of goals from Jacob Brown, Kieffer Moore and Alex Mowatt.
Lee Tomlin celebrated his 30th birthday with a goal as he set Peterborough United on their way to a 2-1 victory against Rochdale on his return to the club. George Cooper also scored for Posh before Ethan Hamilton’s last-minute reply for the visitors.
Peterborough’s win saw them move back into the play-off places at the expense of Doncaster Rovers, who conceded late goals to lose 3-2 to Wycombe Wanderers.
Rovers were in control after strikes from John Marquis and Tommy Rowe but Paris Cowan-Hall reduced the Chairboys’ arrears after 77 minutes. Curtis Thompson equalised for Wycombe in the final minute before Cowan-Hall headed the winner deep into added time.
Plymouth Argyle were the only team in the bottom four to win on Saturday as they prevailed 3-2 away to Southend United. Antoni Sarcevic, Freddie Ladapo and Ruben Lameiras gave Argyle a three-goal lead but Simon Cox, from the penalty spot, and Charlie Kelman netted late replies.
AFC Wimbledon stay bottom after drawing 1-1 away to Coventry City. Jake Jervis gave the Dons an early lead but Derby County loanee Luke Thomas levelled in the second half.
Second-half goals from James Henry and Jamie Mackie saw Oxford United battle back for a 2-2 draw away to Fleetwood Town, who had led through first-half strikes from Wes Burns and Paddy Madden.
Bristol Rovers extended their unbeaten League run to five games with a goalless draw away to Accrington Stanley, while Scunthorpe United made it four wins on the bounce with a 2-1 victory at Walsall.
Lee Novak netted the winner after Nicky Devlin had cancelled out Funso Ojo’s opener for the Iron.