16/05 - 20:00
The EFL can be a cruel place, whether you're making your return to management after several years or hoping to get one over on the club that just got rid of you. Here, we recap the big stories from an intriguing Saturday in the 72.
Championship
There’s no reason to worry about goals at Fulham, though, not when Aleksandar Mitrovic is still at it. Cardiff City gave a good account of themselves against the league leaders but the Serbian striker scored the only goal of the game in the 40th minute. That’s league goal number 34 of the season now.
Second-placed Bournemouth were also made to work for it after Stoke City took the lead at the Vitaliy Stadium. Tommy Smith gave the visitors the lead after 20 minutes but Stoke were down to ten men soon after when Morgan Fox received a red card.
Still, Stoke stayed stubborn even with ten men until Dominic Solanke finally gave the Cherries the breakthrough in the 83rd minute. Then Jamal Lowe won Scott Parker’s team all three points in the 89th minute.
Had Bournemouth lost that game they would have finished this weekend in third place (albeit with games in hand) due to the fine form of Huddersfield Town. The Terriers are now 17 games undefeated in all competitions as they make a push for promotion.
Luton Town are another one of the more surprising teams hoping to secure a play-off spot. The Hatters were made to work for it against Derby County but still managed a 1-0 win.
Staying at the bottom of the table, Grant McCann's first game in charge of Peterborough United against his former employers Hull City didn’t go as he will have wanted it. The Tigers picking up a 3-0 win over the Posh.
Paul Ince also suffered the indignity of losing to a side he previously managed as Blackpool came from behind to comfortable win 4-1 at home to Reading. Indeed, Barnsley were the only team at the bottom of the Championship to have a good weekend with an impressive 3-2 win at home to Middlesbrough.
FT!
— Sky Bet Championship (@SkyBetChamp) February 26, 2022
Plenty of drama today - vintage #SkyBetChampionship! #EFL pic.twitter.com/PVrKtUgx2y
League One
Rotherham United extended their excellent League One run to eight wins out of their last nine games in all competitions and the Millers didn’t concede a single goal in any of those victories. Michael Smith scored the only goal of the game away to Plymouth Argyle that sends Rotherham nine points clear following Wigan Athletic’s defeat to Sunderland.
Wigan suddenly need to look behind them as (if it weren’t for their superior goal difference) MK Dons would have leapfrogged the Tics after an 2-0 win over Bolton Wanderers. Mo Eisa and Scott Twine both getting on the scoresheet to secure MK Dons’ third win in a row.
At the bottom of the League One table, Gillingham got three much-needed points with a 2-0 win away to Lincoln City while Crewe Alexandra put seven defeats in a row behind them with a 2-1 victory of Cheltenham Town.
FT!
— Sky Bet League One (@SkyBetLeagueOne) February 26, 2022
Plenty of goals and plenty of drama in today's #SkyBetLeagueOne action! #EFL pic.twitter.com/opLaZdLM9y
League Two
League leaders Forest Green Rovers lost just their fourth league game of the season on the road 2-1 against Crawley Town. Goals from Ashley Nadesan and Jordan Tunnicliffe put Crawley 2-0 up with just over half an hour gone while Dominic Bernard pulled one back for the visitors late on. The game was briefly delayed before the second half after referee Christopher Pollard picked up an injury and had to be substituted.
Swindon Town also suffered a shock result despite going 1-0 up at home to Salford City. Harry McKirdy opened the scoring for Swindon in the 55th minute but Salford equalised ten minutes later through Liam Shephard and then a late winner when Ryan Watson headed home from a corner.
At the bottom of the table, Carlisle United are out of the relegation zone thanks to Omari Patrick’s fifth-minute goal away to Leyton Orient. Meanwhile, Oldham Athletic couldn’t hold to their lead and drew 1-1 away to Colchester United.
But the big story in the EFL was Mark Hughes’ sensational return to management at Bradford City. The former Manchester City manager said that he “loved every minute of it” but still had to see his side lose 2-0 at home to Mansfield Town.
FT!
— Sky Bet League Two (@SkyBetLeagueTwo) February 26, 2022
It's all over, and what a day we've had!#EFL | #SkyBetLeagueTwo pic.twitter.com/nqILomTtuL
