Michael O’Neill was pleased by his Stoke side’s reaction after a comfortable 2-0 victory versus Blackpool.Despite suffering defeat on the opening weekend of the season, the Potters enjoyed a bright opening period.New recruits Dwight Gayle and Josh Laurent both threatened, with the latter striking the crossbar.And it was another new addition who handed Stoke the advantage when Arsenal...Full Story »

Gillingham boss Neil Harris will be hoping international clearance comes through for new signing Lewis Walker to make his debut in the Sky Bet League Two match against Rochdale.The former QPR striker was not eligible for the opening game at Wimbledon as the club awaited paperwork from Italy from Walker’s previous clubs.Captain Stuart O’Keefe is continuing to be monitored on a knee pr...Full Story »

Cambridge were the first winners in this season’s Carabao Cup following a 1-0 victory over 10-man Millwall.Liam O’Neil’s fine low finish from the edge of the box in the 59th minute proved decisive as the Sky Bet League One side knocked Championship opposition out of the competition for the third time in four years.Millwall’s George Honeyman was sent off for a second yello...Full Story »

Alex Neil admitted Viktor Gyokeres’ equaliser in Sunderland’s 1-1 draw with Coventry proved the difference between playing in the Championship and life in League One.Sunderland looked to be heading for an opening-weekend victory when Jack Clarke headed home Lynden Gooch’s cross to open the scoring in the 12th minute at the Stadium of Light.The Black Cats soaked up Coventry pres...Full Story »

Robbie Neilson admitted Hearts were caught cold in the first half before they eventually kicked off their cinch Premiership campaign with a 2-1 win at home to Ross County.The Tynecastle side were on the back foot before the break as the Staggies, who have had four competitive games in the Premier Sports Cup over the past few weeks, took the game to the Jambos and hit the woodwork twice.Neilson&r...Full Story »

Neil Wood takes charge of his first competitive Salford game as last season’s beaten play-off finalists Mansfield visit the Peninsula Stadium for their Sky Bet League Two opener.Striker Callum Hendry is among the new faces who could make their debut for the Ammies.The former St Johnstone forward warmed up for the season by netting a late winner in a friendly at Barrow last weekend.Elliot S...Full Story »

Alex Neil was delighted to bring the good times back to Sunderland after they returned to the Championship for the first time in four years.The Black Cats deservedly beat Wycombe 2-0 in the Sky Bet League One play-off final at Wembley, with goals from Elliot Embleton and Ross Stewart sealing promotion in front of 46,000 fans.Those supporters have not had it easy in recent times, with back-to-bac...Full Story »

Robbie Neilson is hopeful a groin problem will not keep Hearts top-scorer Liam Boyce out of next weekend’s Scottish Cup final.The Northern Irish striker was forced off just 12 minutes into Saturday’s 3-1 defeat by Rangers in their final cinch Premiership match of the season.The two teams meet again next weekend at Hampden and Neilson is optimistic the issue will not rule Boyce out.&l...Full Story »

Sunderland boss Alex Neil felt his side were worthy of their place in the League One play-off final after they left it late to see off Sheffield Wednesday.The semi-final appeared to be heading for extra-time after Lee Gregory put hosts Wednesday ahead on the night in the 74th minute.But Patrick Roberts struck during stoppage time to earn a 2-1 aggregate victory and book a meeting with Wycombe at...Full Story »

Sunderland boss Alex Neil is refusing to look too far ahead after seeing his side take a slender first-leg advantage in their League One play-off semi-final against Sheffield Wednesday.Ross Stewart’s 25th goal of the season extended the Black Cats’ unbeaten run to 14 games with a 1-0 win in front of a crowd of 44,742 at the Stadium of Light to hand them a narrow lead ahead of Monday&...Full Story »

Alex Neil admitted it was a case of “job done” after Sunderland secured a play-off spot with a 1-0 win at Morecambe.A goal from Nathan Broadhead earned the Black Cats the three points they needed to seal a place in the top seven in Sky Bet League One, while Morecambe survived the drop as both Gillingham and Fleetwood lost.Neil claimed his side were far from their best in a nervy game...Full Story »

Blackpool boss Neil Critchley may look to make changes once again when they face already-relegated Derby.Critchley brought in Oliver Casey and Matty Virtue for rare starts in the Seasiders’ 2-0 win over Barnsley in midweek and may look to experiment with the side once again.Defender Richard Keogh dropped out of the squad in midweek and could return against his former club.Forward Owen Dale...Full Story »

Blackpool boss Neil Critchley believes their 2-0 victory over relegated Barnsley at Oakwell keeps them moving in the right direction.The visitors opened the scoring in the 39th minute when Jake Beesley’s ball over the top found Owen Dale, who cut inside and emphatically finished.The away side doubled their advantage in the second period when Oliver Casey rounded off a well worked set-piece...Full Story »

Neil Harris slammed Gillingham’s defending as they slipped back into the relegation zone after losing 3-1 at Portsmouth.Harris was sent off for protesting about the amount of first-half stoppage time, adding insult to injury.The Gills boss said: “It’s disappointing, because we are now back in the relegation zone.“We didn’t do enough defensively, so it’s a frus...Full Story »

Alex Neil felt Sunderland produced the best performance of his Stadium of Light reign as they thrashed 10-man Cambridge 5-1 to climb to fourth position in the League One table.The Black Cats made the most of the 12th-minute dismissal of Cambridge defender Lloyd Jones as they claimed their biggest win under Neil.Ross Stewart scored twice, with Elliot Embleton, Nathan Broadhead and Danny Batth als...Full Story »

Neil Etheridge should return for Birmingham’s visit of Millwall.The goalkeeper suffered a head injury in the defeat at Nottingham Forest before Easter but has recovered.George Friend could feature for the first time since January after hamstring and calf injuries.Boss Lee Bowyer has said he would take his younger players out of the spotlight after Monday’s 6-1 defeat at Blackpool.Mil...Full Story »

Gobsmacked Gillingham boss Neil Harris could not understand why striker Charlie Kelman was sent off in the goalless draw at home to Fleetwood.Referee James Linington showed both Kelman and Fleetwood winger Paddy Lane straight red cards for the same challenge – something Harris insisted he had never seen before – in the 78th minute.The hard-hitting collision left Lane needing treatmen...Full Story »

Cambridge midfielder Liam O’Neil could return to the starting line-up for the home game against Charlton.O’Neil has recovered from a four-game injury lay-off due to a calf injury and was a second-half substitute in Saturday’s surprise 2-1 win at leaders Wigan.Boss Mark Bonner made three changes at the weekend and George Williams, Adam May and Jubril Okedina will be hoping to re...Full Story »

Gillingham boss Neil Harris will check on a couple of players ahead of the Sky Bet League One match against fellow relegation battlers Fleetwood on Easter Monday.Midfielders Olly Lee and Ben Reeves both had to come off after picking up minor knocks during the second half of the 2-2 draw at Cheltenham on Good Friday.Daniel Phillips and left-back David Tutonda made substitute appearances following...Full Story »

Alex Neil admitted the “best and worst” of Sunderland was on display as his Sky Bet League One play-off hopefuls claimed another stoppage-time winner in a 3-2 victory over Shrewsbury.The hosts looked like cruising to a comprehensive win at the Stadium of Light when goals from Elliot Embleton and Nathan Broadhead established a two-goal advantage in the opening 15 minutes.However, Sund...Full Story »