Plymouth extend lead with mauling of MK Dons

PLYMOUTH are four points clear at the top of League One after extending their winning run with a 4-1 victory at struggling MK Dons.

Argyle netted three times in the first half at Stadium MK, with Morgan Whittaker, Niall Ennis and Finn Azaz getting on the scoresheet.

Azaz added his second just before the hour mark – after Will Grigg had pulled a goal back for the hosts – as Steven Schumacher’s side recorded their fifth win on the bounce and inflicted a fourth successive defeat on the Dons, who are 22nd in the table.

The gap between Plymouth and second-placed Ipswich widened with the Tractor Boys being beaten 1-0 at home by Lincoln. Ben House headed the only goal at Portman Road in the 24th minute.

Third-placed Sheffield Wednesday moved a point behind Ipswich with a 2-0 win at Cambridge, Lee Gregory netting early on and then again with 13 minutes remaining.

Peterborough led at Wycombe before ending up being beaten 3-1 as they dropped a place to fifth, behind Portsmouth who play on Monday. After Harrison Burrows’ opener was cancelled out by Garath Mccleary just prior to half-time, Sam Vokes put the Chairboys ahead in the 74th minute and Anis Mehmeti notched a late third.

Barnsley and Bolton remain sixth and seventh respectively, on the same amount of points, after a goalless draw at the University of Bolton Stadium.

At the other end of the table, the basement battle between 23rdplaced Burton and rock-bottom Morecambe at the Pirelli Stadium ended 1-1. Davis Keillor-dunn’s 30th-minute effort put Burton 1-0 up before Ryan Delaney equalised after 77 minutes.

Third-bottom Forest Green blew a two-goal lead as they drew 2-2 at Port Vale. Vale fought back with a 78th-minute Ademipo Odubeko goal and 88th-minute Ellis Harrison penalty after Myles Peart-harris and Baily Cargill had scored for Rovers in the first half.

Cheltenham are down a place to 20th, two points above the drop zone, following a 4-1 thrashing at home against improving Bristol Rovers, who have now won four on the trot in all competitions.

The Pirates were 4-0 up at the interval following an Aaron Collins brace, either side of efforts from Antony Evans and Bobby Thomas. Liam Sercombe pulled back a penalty for Cheltenham nine minutes after the break.

The Robins switched places with Oxford, who triumphed 4-2 at managerless Exeter.

Tom Bayliss’ first-half goal secured Shrewsbury a 1-0 win at Fleetwood, and Derby won 3-0 at Accrington.