Rock-bottom Carlisle relegated

CARLISLE became the first team to be relegated from League One this season, less than 12 months after winning promotion.

Paul Simpson’s side’s one-season stay in the division ended with a whimper as they crashed 2-0 at Northampton.

Kieron Bowie opened the scoring and Ali Koiki doubled Northampton’s lead in stoppage time.

Carlisle, who have won just six games during a wretched first campaign in League One for a decade, dropped into the bottom four in October and never came out.

A disappointed Simpson said: ‘It’s been the story of our season and the league table doesn’t lie.

‘We had all of the excitement of the promotion last season but unfortunately we haven’t been able to follow it up and we have fallen well short.’

Simpson also said an internal investigation is ongoing over a night out involving some players less than 48 hours before last Monday’s 3-1 defeat by Lincoln.

‘It’s hugely disappointing that certain players haven’t done things properly,’ added Simpson.

At the other end of the table, Portsmouth are one win away from ending their 12-season exile from the Championship after beating Shrewsbury 3-1.

Colby Bishop scored twice for Pompey, who will secure promotion if they win at third-placed Bolton on Saturday.

Aaron Collins opened the scoring after the break against his former club as Bolton won 2-0 at Bristol Rovers. Aaron Morley added the second in the 98th minute.

The race for sixth place and the final play-off spot is looking like a straight head-to-head between Oxford and Lincoln — and they meet each other in 10 days’ time at the Kassam Stadium.

Oxford leapfrogged the Imps into sixth yesterday courtesy of a ruthless 4-0 demolition of Burton.