Colchester boss Matt Bloomfield saluted Kwesi Appiah after the striker salvaged a point for the U’s in a 1-1 draw with Barrow.Appiah, playing for the first time since December 10, struck from close range in the sixth minute of stoppage time after fellow substitute John Akinde’s effort had been cleared off the line.Akinde had earlier had a penalty saved by goalkeeper Paul Farman, afte...Full Story »

Matt Gray heaped praise on his Sutton side for grinding out a 1-0 victory against a Harrogate team that made four half-time substitutions and changed their system three times.On-loan winger David Ajiboye, who has returned to Sutton following a summer move to Peterborough, grabbed the game’s only goal after eight minutes during a dominant first-half display by the visitors.Ajiboye was also ...Full Story »

Delighted Colchester boss Matt Bloomfield praised the character of his side as the U’s moved eight points clear of the Sky Bet League Two relegation zone.They needed a scrambled 88th-minute Alex Newby winner to see off struggling Pools, who thought they had salvaged a late point.And, after recording a fourth successive away win – the first time Colchester have managed that in 25 year...Full Story »

Matt Bloomfield was proud of his Colchester players after they battled back to secure a 1-1 draw against promotion-chasing Salford in Sky Bet League Two.The Ammies took a 49th-minute lead through Conor McAleny, who nodded in from close range from Ryan Watson’s assist after Theo Vassell’s header from a corner had struck the crossbar.However, substitute Fiacre Kelleher rose to head hom...Full Story »

West Bromwich Albion head coach Carlos Corberan had mixed feelings after his side exposed the 70-place gap to National League Chesterfield to win their FA Cup third-round replay 4-0 at The Hawthorns.West Brom’s reward for their biggest FA Cup win for nearly eight years is an all-Sky Bet Championship tie at Bristol City in the fourth round.But a late thigh injury to substitute Matt Phillips...Full Story »

Nigel Pearson reflected on Bristol City’s first home win since October and admitted the result was all that mattered.But the manager was even more delighted that he could look back on a scintillating performance that tore Birmingham to shreds, particularly down the flanks.First-half strikes from Antoine Semenyo and Nahki Wells put the Blues on the back foot before Mark Sykes netted his fir...Full Story »

Colchester boss Matt Bloomfield was delighted for “unsung hero” Cole Skuse to take the plaudits after the midfielder scored the winner in a 2-1 victory at Rochdale.The visitors had edged ahead through Junior Tchamadeu’s ripping shot in the 22nd minute following good work by John Akinde in holding up a free-kick delivery into the area.Dale levelled via Devante Rodney in the 36th...Full Story »

Rotherham manager Matt Taylor believes his team are up for the fight against relegation after they smashed Blackburn 4-0.A change in formation and debuts for the club’s two new signings, Sean Morrison and Leo Hjelde, paid off for Taylor as the Millers gained their first victory since mid-November and ended an eight-game winless streak.It took the Millers just 31 seconds to go in front afte...Full Story »

Colchester boss Matt Bloomfield felt his side’s 3-1 victory at Harrogate could have been more comprehensive.Goals from John Akinde, Noah Chilvers and Junior Tchamadeu put the visitors in command before Luke Armstrong’s consolation as Colcheter made it back-to-back league wins for the first time this season.Akinde, who was singled out for praise by Bloomfield, was also denied a second...Full Story »

Both managers were left frustrated after Tranmere and Sutton played out a four-goal thriller at Prenton Park.A brace from the visitors’ Alistair Smith and goals from Josh Hawkes and Kane Hemmings for the hosts ensured both sides went home with a point after an entertaining 2-2 draw which keeps each side’s play-off hopes alive.Smith scored his first of the season from 12 yards before ...Full Story »

Red-hot Matt Crooks inspired Middlesbrough to victory at Birmingham as they charged back into the Championship’s top six.The midfielder bagged a quickfire second-half double and set up Chuba Akpom’s late clincher as Boro sealed a 3-1 win.Crooks now has four goals in his last five games with Boro up to fifth in a congested and competitive Championship – having reached the play-o...Full Story »

Matt Bloomfield was proud of his Colchester players after they beat promotion-chasing Swindon 1-0 to boost their Sky Bet League Two survival hopes.Luke Hannant grabbed the only goal after 30 minutes, rising to head home Al-Amin Kazeem’s corner at the near post to leave Bloomfield’s side five points above the relegation zone.Boss Bloomfield said: “I’m really proud of the b...Full Story »

Matt Taylor admits the January transfer window could not have come at a better time after his injury-ravaged Rotherham slumped to a 3-0 defeat at Millwall.Lions striker Tom Bradshaw grabbed a double either side of half-time and Cameron Humphreys’ own goal capped a miserable afternoon for the Millers.Rotherham have won just once in their last 12 Championship matches and suffered a whole hos...Full Story »

Matt Gray could not have asked for a better festive period for Sutton after a 2-1 victory over neighbours AFC Wimbledon at Gander Green Lane.The U’s capped off a fine week with three wins from as many games and now sit only three points off the League Two play-off positions after just one defeat in their last seven.Will Randall opened the scoring in the 13th minute before Josh Davison&rsqu...Full Story »

Salford boss Neil Wood praised hat-trick hero Matt Smith after his clinical display helped gun down Grimsby in Sky Bet League Two.Smith set the tone with a first-minute opener and scored twice more before half-time in a convincing 4-1 win for the promotion chasers.Ethan Galbraith also netted, with Otis Khan replying for the mid-table hosts at Blundell Park.Wood said: “Matt Smith ...Full Story »

Sutton United boss Matt Gray was delighted to finally have a late goal go his side’s way after a dramatic 2-1 win over Gillingham.Robbie McKenzie had seemingly salvaged a point for the League Two strugglers when he cancelled out team-mate Elkan Baggott’s own goal on the stroke of half-time.But Craig Eastmond’s 93rd-minute winner condemned the basement boys to a third straight l...Full Story »

Salford maintained their Sky Bet League Two promotion push with a comfortable 4-1 win against mid-table Grimsby at Blundell Park.Matt Smith led the way with a first-half hat-trick and Ethan Galbraith also scored for Salford, after Grimsby attacker Otis Khan briefly replied.The visitors made a lightning start as Smith volleyed home inside 50 seconds after being picked out by his captain Ibou Tour...Full Story »

Sutton boss Matt Gray felt his men responded perfectly to his demand to step it up in the second half as they secured only their second away Sky Bet League Two win of the season with a 2-1 victory at Crawley.Joe Kizzi’s first goal of the campaign and a penalty by former Crawley player Rob Milsom did the damage for Gray’s side, albeit with substitute Aramide Oteh’s grabbing a la...Full Story »

Carlisle manager Paul Simpson was pleased with his side’s creativity, if not their cutting edge, as they defeated Bradford 1-0 to climb to fourth in Sky Bet League Two.Paul Huntington’s first-half header proved decisive at Brunton Park as Carlisle extended a 37-year unbeaten home streak against the Bantams.“Was it deserved?” Simpson pondered. “I’m not sure I a...Full Story »

Lee Bell admitted he was disappointed not to have seen any attacking prowess from his players in Crewe’s 2-0 defeat at Stockport.The Alex failed to muster a shot on target in their Boxing Day loss and Bell is calling for his men to show their true ability and some creativity.“When you go for 98 minutes without a shot on goal and don’t create anything, one goal would have been e...Full Story »