Although the FA Cup was the main focus of Saturday’s fixtures there was still plenty of action in the EFL.
Championship
Preston move within four points of the promotion spaces after winning 1-0 away to Hull City through Cameron Archer’s 51st-minute goal. It was an entertaining game and one that saw new Tigers boss Shota Arveladze suffer his first defeat following last week’s win over Swansea City.
Indeed, Swansea bounced back from two straight defeats to defeat Blackburn Rovers. It’s a blow for Tony Mowbray’s team who are still second but should Bournemouth and QPR win their games in hand they’ll overtake Rovers.
The result went against the run of play. Blackburn wasted plenty of chances while Swansea City scored the only goal of the game in the 16th minute through Michael Obafemi. The Swans did particularly well to hang on while having ten men for the majority of the second half.
League One
That was until Amadou Bakayoko clinched an equaliser in stoppage time for the visitors.
Managerless Sunderland were defeated at home by bottom-of-the-league Doncaster Rovers and move down to fourth. Although fans did get to see Jermain Defoe made his second debut for the club off the bench. Reo Griffiths and Tommy Rowe scored in the first half while Corry Evans got an 89th-minute consolation for the Black Cats.
Winning is certainly no problem for Rotherham United who made it four league wins in a row thanks to Daniel Barlaser’s goal at home to Accrington Stanley. Rotherham are six points clear ahead of Wigan Athletic (who were eliminated from the FA Cup by Stoke City), although Latics do have three games in hand.
Another team in a fine run of form is MK Dons, who have won five of their last six League One games. The Dons were made to work by Lincoln City who took the lead after just eight minutes through John Marquis. But goals from Harry Darling and Warren O’Hara ensured MK Dons moved up the table.
Meanwhile, AFC Wimbledon need desperately to get back to winning ways – something they haven’t done in ten league games. Wimbledon did take the lead early at the Valley, but Charlton Athletic came back to eventually win 3-2.
In the other League One games, Oxford United defeated 10-man Portsmouth 3-2 in an action-packed game, Ipswich won 1-0 to add to Gillingham’s woes, Fleetwood took a point home after a 1-1 draw away to Shrewsbury, and Sheffield Wednesday won their third game in a row following a 2-0 win over Burton Albion.
FT!
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League Two
The bottom two of League Two went head to head as Scunthorpe took on Oldham Athletic. 18-year old substitute Junior Luamba scored the only goal of the game for Oldham to reignite their hopes of survival.
At the top of the table, Forest Green Rovers returned to winning ways with a 2-0 victory over Newport County thanks to a Matty Stevens brace. With Tranmere only drawing away to Barrow, the lead at the top of the table increases to 10 points – Forest Green could extend that to 13 if they win their game in hand.
Newport’s defeat allowed Northampton Town to move up to fourth place following their 1-0 win away to Walsall thanks to Mitch Pinnock’s early goal.
Bradford City had plenty of chances to win away to Harrogate Town but wasteful finishing meant that Jack Diamond scored twice for the home time to give the Sulphurites a hard-fought three points.
Colchester United’s 1-0 win over Leyton Orient was marred by Corie Andrews allegedly suffering racist abuse from fans. January signing Andrews set up the only goal of the game: Freddie Sears’s fourth-minute winner.
Elsewhere, Exeter City moved ahead of Swindon Town with a 2-1 while Sutton United drew 1-1 with Bristol Rovers and Crawley Town drew 2-2 with Stevenage.
FT!
— Sky Bet League Two (@SkyBetLeagueTwo) February 5, 2022
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