Paul Scholes gets off to a flyer at Oldham with 4-1 win over Yeovil
Paul Scholes enjoyed a winning start to his managerial career as his Oldham side ran out 4-1 winners in the League Two match against Yeovil at Boundary Park.
The 44-year-old former Manchester United and England midfielder took charge on Monday and Oldham produced the required response on the pitch as Jose Baxter put them in front during first-half stoppage time. Callum Lang headed home early in the second half before Bevis Mugabi pulled a goal back on 54 minutes following a freekick.
Mohamed Maouche put the result beyond doubt on 88 minutes, and there was still time for Christopher Missilou to volley in a fourth. “It’s a relief and I may get some sleep tonight,” said Scholes, who lives just a few minutes’ drive from his boyhood club. “It was a tough night and not really a 4-1 game but I was proud with the way they battled
“I’m a little bit disappointed with the [Yeovil] goal but pleased with the way we played on a tough pitch. Jose’s goal came at a great time just before half-time and that made us relax a little bit. The second goal was a good one again but the goal conceded makes you wary, but to get two goals late on just topped it off nicely.”
At 2-0 the Latics looked comfortable but once they conceded, within three minutes of doubling their lead, the game was in the balance until two late, long-range shots put a gloss on the scoreline. “That’s what I want. I want them to express themselves and enjoy themselves. Fans want entertainment and that’s what we gave them,” Scholes added. “It’s a place I’ve come as a fan and I know you excite them when you entertain them.”
Victory lifted Oldham to 11th, six points from the play-offs, with two home matches to come. “There’s a chance of the play-offs but I’m not looking far ahead,” he added. “We’ll look at Crewe first on Saturday. I knew there was talent in the side and they’ve shown it.”
Chuks Aneke came off the bench to score a late winner as MK Dons boosted their play-off hopes with a 1-0 win at Newport. The former Arsenal youngster struck with two minutes left, lifting the Dons up to fourth and four points off second-placed Bury.
Forest Green Rovers saw their playoff push dented with a 2-0 defeat at Swindon, a second loss in the space of four days. Kaiyne Woolery broke the deadlock on 36 minutes after being set up by Theo Robinson with the on-loan Southend striker – making his home debut – then on the scoresheet himself just before half-time.
Carlisle’s play-off hopes were also dealt a blow with a 2-1 loss at Crewe. The Railwaymen raced into an early lead when Chris Porter scored from close range after three minutes. The visitors were then reduced to 10 men when Jamie Devitt was shown a straight red card following a clash with Perry Ng. Although Gary Miller equalised, Crewe made their advantage count when the substitute Shaun Miller grabbed what proved to be the winner with 17 minutes remaining.
Doncaster gave themselves a cushion in the League One play-off places with a comfortable 3-0 win against Southend at the Keepmoat.
Apart from an opening 10-minute spell, Rovers were totally dominant and went ahead when John Marquis headed in his 22nd of the season. Further goal from Mallik Wilks and Herbie Kane in the second half sealed the victory and saw Doncaster open up a four-point lead over Peterborough in seventh spot.
Sunderland stay fourth but needed a late Jack Baldwin header to earn a 1-1 draw at the Stadium of Light against Blackpool, who led through Armand Gnanduillet’s effort.
AFC Wimbledon kept their survival hopes alive with a 1-0 victory at Walsall where Steve Seddon scored the only goal shortly after half-time. The Dons are still bottom and seven points adrift of safety, however.
In the Championship, Jay Rodriguez’s controversial late penalty rescued a point for West Brom against Nottingham Forest. The striker’s 17th goal of the season secured a 2-2 draw after Dwight Gayle’s theatrical tumble in the area.
Ryan Yates’ first Forest goal looked to have put the visitors on course for victory midway through the second half. Jacob Murphy’s first goal in over a year had initially hauled Albion level after Stefan Johansen’s early own goal. The Baggies remain fourth while ninthplaced Forest slipped five points behind the top six in their quest to end a 20year Premier League exile.
Famara Diedhiou scored an injury time penalty to give Bristol City a 2-1 win over QPR at Ashton Gate and extend their winning run to nine games. The visitors went in front just before the interval when a header from Nahki Wells came back off a post and presented Matt Smith with a tap-in.
But Niclas Eliasson levelled for City in the 73rd minute, accepting a Jamie Paterson pass and cutting in from the right to bury a left-foot shot from just inside the box. Diedhiou settled the outcome at the start of five minutes of stoppage time. Having been fouled by Darnell Furlong, the big striker got up to score with a powerful spot-kick.
Phil Parkinson praised Bolton’s spirit after Callum Connolly’s header gave them a first win in eight Championship games, a 1-0 victory at Birmingham.
The 21-year-old was shown a yellow card for only one of two late challenges in as many second-half minutes at St Andrew’s before heading the only goal of the soon after. The dreary contest was short of quality and chances but the visitors were deservedly rewarded for a gutsy and disciplined display.
“It was important to respond [to Saturday’s home loss to Preston],” Parkinson said. “It was a spirited performance – every single one of them ran themselves into the ground. They didn’t play for 45 minutes or 60 minutes, they stuck with it to the very end. Saturday was a disappointment but that was a full-on, committed, typical Bolton Wanderers display.”
Sheffield Wednesday continued their unbeaten start under Steve Bruce as they played out a 0-0 draw against Millwall at the Den. The home side failed to score for the third home league game in a row despite having more than their share of the few chances as Wednesday continued their run of not conceding under the new manager.
Rotherham moved two points clear of the relegation zone after a rousing second-half comeback secured a 2-2 draw at Hull. Jarrod Bowen and Fraizer Campbell, with their 16th and 10th goals of the season respectively, fired the Tigers into a 2-0 half-time lead but Paul Warne changed the game with his substitutions, bringing on Anthony Forde and Jon Taylor for the Millers.
Forde gave them hope by pouncing on a mistake from David Marshall following good work from Taylor, who then saw a shot deflected in to level the scores in the 55th minute.