Three players hit trebles in the EFL in what was a goal-filled day of action.
Ellis Harrison scored four for Bristol Rovers as they romped to a 5-0 victory over Northampton Town to move up to eighth in Sky Bet League One.#EFL Star of the Day? It’ a no-brainer…@Official_BRFC's four-goal hero Ellis Harrison!
— EFL (@EFL) January 7, 2017
🔥🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/nGR7imwyWZ
Leaders Sheffield United extended their advantage at the summit to four points with their sixth successive victory - a 4-2 triumph against Southend United.
Scunthorpe United climbed up to second courtesy of a 3-2 win at home to Bury, who fell into the bottom four as a result, with Shrewsbury climbing out. The Shakers are now 16 league games without a victory.
Elsewhere, Bradford City are up to fourth following a routine 2-0 success against Chesterfield.
Sky Bet League One: Results
Saturday 7th January 2017
Bradford City 2-0 Chesterfield
Bristol Rovers 5-0 Northampton Town
Scunthorpe United 3-2 Bury
Southend United 2-4 Sheffield United
Swindon Town 1-1 Shrewsbury Town
Standings: Click here to see the Sky Bet League One table
Kurtis Guthrie and Matt Godden were the hat-trick heroes in Sky Bet League Two, firing their respective sides to victories.
Guthrie hit his treble in Colchester United's 4-1 win over promotion rivals Carlisle United, who had lost only twice so far this season prior to that defeat.
The U’s climbed to up to sixth after that victory, which was their seventh success in eight.
RESULT OF THE DAY: What Manager of the Month curse?
— EFL (@EFL) January 7, 2017
John McGreal's @ColU_Official notched their seventh win in eight to move up to sixth. 👏 pic.twitter.com/gsM9uubo9q
Godden’s hat-trick came in Stevenage’s 3-1 win over rock-bottom Newport County.
Barnet also won 3-1, against Leyton Orient, and that saw them move into the Play-Off places, to sit seventh.
Alan Smith’s start to life as caretaker boss of Notts County got off to the worst possible start, as they suffered a 4-1 reverse at the hands of Morecambe, stretching their losing streak to 10 games.
Elsewhere, Mansfield Town beat Crewe Alexandra 3-0, while Adi Yussuf scored his second goal in as many games for new club Grimsby Town to guide the Mariners to a 1-0 win at Hartlepool United.
Sky Bet League Two: Results
Saturday 7th January 2017
Colchester United 4-1 Carlisle United
Hartlepool United 0-1 Grimsby Town
Leyton Orient 1-3 Barnet
Mansfield Town 3-0 Crewe Alexandra
Morecambe 4-1 Notts County
Stevenage 3-1 Newport County
Standings: Click here to see the Sky Bet League Two table