Championship
- Newcastle United’s hopes of steamrollering the league are over – for now at least – after their five-match winning run came to an end at home to Wolves. Newcastle breezed to a 6-0 win over QPR on Tuesday but were not to have it all their own way twice in five days. Chancel Mbemba sent the Iceland forward Jon Dadi Bodvarsson’s cross past his goalkeeper Matz Sels before winger Hélder Costa made sure of the three points on the hour mark. Vurnon Anita was sent off late on to compound a bad afternoon for Rafael Benítez’s charges. Such title hopes are in the balance anyway, with Huddersfield Town showing no signs of wilting at the top of tree, after a 2-1 win over QPR. Chelsea loanee Kasey Palmer got the ball rolling, with his first goal since the opening day of the season, before Elias Kachunga doubled the Terriers lead. Idrissa Sylla headed a late goal for the visitors but David Wagner’s side held on. Aston Villa’s fortunes aren’t so rosy, despite Roberto Di Matteo largely revamping a squad relegated from the Premier League last season. Villa, who still only have one win to their name this term, played out a stalemate at Ipswich Town.
- Barnsley slipped up at home for the first time since April, losing to 10-man Reading, who went ahead courtesy of early goals from Garath McCleary and John Swift from distance. McCleary was later sent off before Adam Armstrong, on loan from Newcastle, scored nine minutes from time but Jaap Stam’s side dug deep to clinch victory. Norwich City, perhaps after getting wind of scores elsewhere, came from behind to beat Nottingham Forest and climb into second, thanks to Graham Dorrans’ winner. Scott Hogan bagged a hat-trick to take his tally to six goals for the season as Brentford romped to a 5-0 win over Preston at Griffin Park to move into the top six. Joining them there are Birmingham City, who grabbed a last-gasp win over Sheffield Wednesday courtesy of Lukas Jutkiewicz’s first goal since May 2014. Gary Hooper had given Wednesday a 76th minute lead, before Clayton Donaldson’s penalty and then Jutkiewicz ensured a late win.
- Derby County’s barren run in front of goal improved, slightly, at Ashton Gate. Ikechi Anya scored only their second league goal of the season, but the 36-year-old Bristol City substitute Aaron Wilbraham bagged his first goal of the season deep into injury-time. “He was the wise old head that stuck in there and earned us the point,” said his manager Lee Johnson post-match. It was a landmark day for Blackburn Rovers, too, who secured their first league win of the season at Ewood Park. Sam Gallagher capped the 4-2 victory over Rotherham United with his third goal of the season. Elsewhere, Wigan and Fulham played out a goalless draw and Brighton clinched a late winner at Burton Albion, courtesy of a Tomer Hemed penalty. In the early kick-off, Leeds United ran out victorious at Cardiff, who succumbed to a fourth straight defeat and drop to bottom of the table.
League One
- Northampton Town’s 31-game unbeaten run is over. Rob Page’s side slipped to a 3-1 defeat at Chesterfield, with Conor Wilkinson netting two goals for the hosts. There’s plenty of reasons to be cheerful, though, namely Manchester United’s pending visit on Wednesday. “The test now is how we react from it and there is no better game for that to happen,” said Page. As Northampton’s fine tale ended, another one began, in strange circumstances at Valley Parade, where Bradford City and Bristol Rovers drew. The referee, Andy Haines, brought both sets of players off of the pitch during the second half for safety reasons, because of a flying drone overhead – surely a Football League first. The game was halted for around five minutes. No sooner play was restored, James Meredith struck before the on loan Chelsea midfielder Charlie Colkett grabbed an equaliser four minutes from time. Elsewhere, Bolton Wanderers surrendered top spot after defeat by 10-man Walsall, with on-loan Southampton defender Jason McCarthy scoring the only goal of the game.
- Step forward, Scunthorpe United then. David Mirfin’s goal on the brink of half time at Shrewsbury Town was enough for Graham Alexander’s side to capitalise on Bolton’s defeat and leapfrog Wanderers. Hallam Hope, the former Everton striker, scored twice to keep up Bury’s momentum, with the Shakers sealing their fourth win in a row at Swindon Town, who scored a consolation strike through Jon Obika. Sheffield United matched that very statistic, as Matty Done’s first-half goal against Peterborough United was enough to secure their fourth win on the bounce. In a London derby, AFC Wimbledon took all three points away from the Valley, where Charlton Athletic went ahead through the talented teenager, Ademola Lookman. But Dominic Poleon and Tyrone Barnett turned things around in seven second-half minutes to secure bragging rights of sorts.
- Gillingham, who have a glamour tie of their own to look forward to at White Hart Lane on Wednesday, slipped up at Port Vale, who won 2-1 thanks to Alex Jones’s goal six minutes from time. Rochdale beat Fleetwood Town by the same scoreline at Spotland, to earn their first win of the season. Elsewhere, Southend United beat Millwall 3-1, Coventry City and Oldham Athletic played out a stalemate, as did Oxford United and MK Dons.
League Two
- There’s only one place to start in the fourth tier, with Plymouth Argyle taking victory in the Devon derby at Exeter City to remain top of the division. On loan Bristol City striker Arnold Garita, making only his second start in English football, grabbed the second goal of the game after Graham Carey’s opener in the 104th meeting between the two sides. “Devon is green and white tonight and it always will be,” said Argyle manager Derek Adams after the win. Well, well, well. Portsmouth lost ground on Adams’ side after sliding to a 1-0 defeat at Accrington Stanley, with Paddy Lacey scoring the only goal of the game. Pompey boss Paul Cook said his side were “not good enough” after their third defeat on the road this season.
- James Coppinger rightly grabbed the headlines last weekend after finding the net on his 500th appearance in a Doncaster Rovers shirt, and he was back at it again, opening the scoring en route to a 2-0 home win over Newport County. Rovers move into second at this early stage, with Crewe in close company in third after their 2-0 win at Grimsby Town. Also in the play-off picture are Morecambe, who returned to winning ways at Cambridge United, as the Football League’s bottom club continued their dismal start to the season. At Blackpool, Armand Gnanduillet scored an equaliser as the Tangerines came from two goals down at home to Carlisle United. Kyle Vassell had prompted the comeback on the hour, Gnanduillet’s third goal in as many matches.
- There was a five-goal thriller at Cheltenham Town, former Sunderland forward Jon Stead netting twice as Notts County beat the Robins 3-2. Another (technically) former Premier League player, Jonathan Forte, had opened the scoring in Gloucestershire. Crawley Town won their first match in five against Luton, thanks to goals from James Collins and Enzio Boldewijn. Tom Eaves ensured a happy coach journey home for Yeovil Town and Darren Way, after the Glovers’ first win in six matches at Leyton Orient. Elsewhere, Barnet drew with Colchester United, Wycombe Wanderers edged past Stevenage 1-0 and Hartlepool United and Mansfield Town played out a goalless draw.
