Matchday 26: Review

Sky Bet Championship leaders Leeds United were beaten in dramatic fashion at the City Ground in front of the Sky Sports cameras as Forest moved up to seventh in the table.

Jack Colback put the home side ahead early on and things went from bad to worse for Marcelo Bielsa’s side as a red card for Kalvin Phillips saw them reduced to ten men before half-time. However, the visitors overcame the disadvantage as youngster Jack Clarke equalised, before Ezgian Alioski turned the game around to give them the lead.

However, Forest dug deep and a second Jack Colback goal made it 2-2, before Daryl Murphy and Ben Osborn added further goals to boost Forest’s play-off hopes in dramatic fashion.

Second placed Norwich City couldn’t take full advantage of Leeds United loss, but did cut the gap at the top to just two points after they came from behind to draw with Brentford.

It was Sheffield United who took real advantage of top sides dropping points as they moved up to third and just two points behind Norwich with a 3-0 victory away at Wigan Athletic.

David McGoldrick put the Blades ahead, before Mark Duffy added a second and Billy Sharp rounded off a successful afternoon for both him and the South Yorkshire side. Scoring his 220th English League goal, Sharp reached a significant milestone becoming the top scorer in the top four divisions in England this century, surpassing Rickie Lamberts mark.

West Bromwich Albion drop to fourth after goals from Blackburn duo Charlie Mulgrew and Bradley Dack secured three points for Rovers.

Hull City continued their resurgence by putting six past Bolton Wanderers to win their fifth game in a row. Nigel Adkins side move up to 13th place, but are without touching distance of seventh as just three points separate them and Nottingham Forest.

Play-off contenders Middlesbrough and Derby County shared the spoils, as did Aston Villa and QPR.

At the other end of the table, Ipswich Town lost at home to Millwall, however teenager Jack Lankester’s first senior goal for the club was something to smile about for the Tractor Boys.

New Reading boss Jose Gomes suffered a heavy defeat against Swansea City, Rotherham United beat Preston North End, Sheffield Wednesday drew against an in-form Birmingham City and Bristol City defeated Stoke City at the Bet 365 Stadium.

Grant McCann’s Doncaster Rovers side must have all been in bed before 12 last night as they put five past a weary Rochdale side at the Keepmoat Stadium.

Alfie May was in no mood to hang around as he found the back of Magnus Norman’s net inside 36-seconds, a spectacular free-kick from Ali Crawford, a diving header from James Coppinger and two goals from John Marquis lifted Rovers into the play-off places at Peterborough United’s expense.

Portsmouth survived a momentary scare from Walley Downes’ AFC Wimbledon at Fratton Park to extend their lead at the top of the table to five points.

Sunderland treated 7,804 travelling supporters to a 1-0 win by the seaside, as Josh Maja’s first-half strike was enough for all three points against Blackpool.

There was a shock result at the ABAX Stadium as Scunthorpe United boosted their relegation woes after seeing off at-the-time fifth-placed Peterborough United.

Lyle Taylor’s winner and 11^th goal of the season gave Charlton a narrow 2-1 victory over Walsall at the Valley.

There were only three goalless draw in the whole of the EFL and they all came in Sky Bet League One, Barnsley held second-placed Luton Town, meanwhile Shrewsbury Town and Fleetwood Town played out a draw the Montgomery Waters Medow.

The third goalless game came at the Memorial Stadium as Bristol Rovers held Carabao Cup semi-finalists Burton Albion

Coventry City’s Conor Chaplin clearly likes playing against Wycombe Wanderers, as he bagged his fourth goal in five league matches against the Chairboys which in turn, saw them lose their fourth consecutive game in League One.

10-men Southend United saw off Gillingham by two-goals to nil, strikes from Sam Mantom and Taylor Moore lifted them up to ninth in the league standings.

Elsewhere, Bradford City’s resurgence claimed another scalp as they put three past John Coleman’s Accrington Stanley at Valley Parade.

Derek Adams’ Plymouth Argyle lifted themselves off the foot off the Sky Bet League One table as they put three past Oxford United.#

Well New Year’s Day in Sky Bet League Two certainly did not disappoint as there were goals, shocks and a few red cards.

The biggest result of the day came at Stadium MK where MK Dons were in red-hot form as they fired six past struggling Cambridge United.

Two goals from Kieran Agard and Rhys Healey, and one apiece from Chucks Aneke and Osman Sow pulled Paul Tisdale’s side closer to league leaders Lincoln City.

There was a shock at Sincil Bank as Port Vale left it late to snatch a point from the clutches of the Imps who were looking to extend take their 2018 form into the New Year.

Mansfield Town finally managed broke a 31-year hoodoo as they beat Grimsby Town at Blundell Park in the day’s early kick-off, that win also saw them extend their impressive away record in the EFL to 15-games unbeaten.

Ryan Lowe’s Bury had to come from behind at Gigg Lane to see off Crewe Alexandra, who had won their last eight games on New Year’s Day.

Colchester United dropped out of the play-offs as they went down 2-0 to Crawley Town, meanwhile Forest Green Rovers strengthened their play-off credentials as they scored a 90^th-minute winner at the New Lawn to see of Northampton Town.

Exeter’s Jayden Stockley was left out of the matchday squad as he nears a move away from the club, but that made no difference to the Grecians as they beat Richie Wellens’ Swindon Town on their own patch.

Stevenage leapfrogged Newport County in the League Two table thanks to an Alex Revell strike in the 85^th-minute.

Down the bottom of the table, Cheltenham Town put some distance between themselves and the relegation zone, as they put four past 21^st-placed Yeovil Town.

Macclesfield Town gained a point against Tranmere Rovers, as they continue their fight for survival. Morecambe lost 2-0 to Carlisle United at the Globe Arena and Notts County stay rooted to the bottom of the league as they lost 2-0 to Oldham Athletic’s Boundary Park.