Coventry 3 Derby 0

Coventry's hit and run tactics worked a treat again today as they won there 3rd game on the spin , two wonder goals the first from Gary Mcallister who hit a wonderful 30 yard volley past the stranded Lee Grant after a poor headed clearance from Derby , the second was equally as fine a long punt forward to Hignett who brought the ball down and looped a cracking shot over the bemussed Grant again.

Derby were shell shock after not doing much wrong they too had chances before and after the two goals the best falling to Lee Morris when from a great cross from Paul Boiretein saw his shot tipped round the post.

But it was Coventrys day when in the second half on 54 Bothroyd was played into space and completly unmarked shot a fine strike across the keeper and in for the match winner 3-0.

Man Of The Match

Gary Mcallister - Coventry

Gillingham 4 Burnley 2

Burnley suffered yet more misery this time being thumped 4-2 away at the Gills , Gills boss Andy Hessentaler in the week challenged Rod Wallace to get amongst the goals and his words came true on 17 minutes as he put the home side 1-0 up.  Nine minutes later the Clarets were level as striker Gareth Taylor headed home from close range , but the old saying never rest on your laurels until half time anyway came to light as Paul Smith grabbed two on 41 and 45 to comfortably take the home side into the break.

Marlon King Mr bad boy not long ago put the Clarets to the sword as he swooped to put the Gills into an unreachable lead , the away side never really threatned after that and were lucky not to go further behind moments later , but Burnley did have something to cheer as Robert Blake converted a penalty on 76 after a foul by Papadopoulos , cheers turned to jeers as late on Burnley had both Gareth Taylor and Dean West sent off.

Man Of The Match

Paul Smith - Gillingham

Grimsby 2 Sheff Wed 0

Sheffield Wednesday find themselves in all kinds of trouble rooted rock bottom of the league , but Grimsby were bouyant as they move clear of Stoke by 3 pionts .  Wednesday who still havent won under Chris Turner look doomed if they continue this current state of play , Grimsby's two goals were scored firstly on 49 minutes by defender George Santos and 3 minutes later by Darren Mansaram.

Sheffield Wednesday will rue dominating the first half and not putting chances away from the likes of Kuqi , Sibon and Allan Johnston , but you always get that luck when your at the bottom and thats life i suppose.

Man Of The Match

Danny Coyne - Grimsby

Millwall 1 Wolves 1

Wolves will rue clear cut chances and think to themselves how the hell didn't we win , it was the Wolves who took the lead as early as the fifth minute as Kennedy was put clean through by Alex Rae on the left , the Irish winger cut into the box and lifted the ball into the net for 1-0.

Millwall were clearly the better side in the first half they stroked the ball round nicely and created a few openings, but that had to wait until 3 minutes before the break for there goal , a corner from the right by Dennis Wise was punched clear by Matt Murray only as far as Andy Roberts who guided the ball back towards goal and into the net for the equaliser.

Wolves were the much better side in the second half they did everything in this half they didn't do in the first , got closer to men , harried  and passed the ball a lot better. The chances Wolves will look back on to win the game easily were from Dean Sturridge and George Ndah they both spurned easy chances, and manager Dave Jones must be going mad thats two weeks on the trot Wolves have had mass chances but can't score for love nor money.

Man Of The Match

Alex Rae - Wolves

Norwich 2 Walsall 1

Norwich continued to keep tabs with Nottm Forest at the top end of the division ,it wasn't as clear cut as the bookies might have told you , Walsall who are the up there on the scoring front with 37 goals this season went infront but it was an unfortunate one for Norwich midfielder Clint Easton , Easton deflected a strong shot by Steve Corica to shock the Canaries and put the Saddlers in front.

The lead wasn't to last long when Malkay Mckay equalised from a powerful header 5 minutes later parity was restored when a excellent free kick was curled home from 25 yards by Phil Mulrhye , this wasn't one way traffic and the visitors had a fair few chances to get back on terms but both teams defended well and the result was a fair one.

One bit of bad news for Walsall was Gareth Ainsworth's sending off he was on the field less then 2 minutes before walking straight back of and back to the changing rooms after a lunge at Gary Holt.

Man Of The Match

Phil Mulryne - Norwich

Nottm For 2 Reading 0    ----  ( Report By Kevin Bethell)

Nottingham Forest returned to form today with a comfortable 2-0 win against promotion rivals Reading at The City Ground. The Reds were in front as early as the 3rd minute with David Johnson bagging his 21st goal of the season after good play from Gareth Williams. The 2nd came mid-way through the 2nd half, Marlon Harewood going round the keeper before flicking home into the unguarded net.

Reading failed to show much attacking threat, Andy Hughes' header in the 1st half sailing over the bar their only real note-worthy opportunity of the game.  The game ended on a sour note with Jack Lester being sent off for 2 soft cautions and Forest boss Paul Hart confronting the referee at full-time.

Man Of The Match

Riccy Scimeca - Nottm Forest

Portsmouth 1 Ipswich 1

Portsmouth lead at the summit of Division One is looking rather precarious as another draw for Pompey has The Foxes right up behind them , Ipswich are now starting to show some form that could still have them vying for a place in the playoffs yet.

Pompey took the lead earlier on when a cross from the left was stabbed home by Todorov for his 11th goal of the season , The Tractor boys played some delightful stuff and stopped Portsmouth in there tracks at times and made life very difficult for the leaders , the second half was a cracking spectical as both sides flexed there stuff and created chances a plenty.

Ipswich's pressure told and they equalised on 54 by Gaardsoe his clever header from a great Jim Magilton cross flew past Andy Marshall , Chris Makin was sent off late on but both teams deserved the piont and thats the way it finished.

Man Of The Match

Fabian Wilnis - Ipswich

Sheff Utd 1 Preston 0

Sheff Utd grabbed a very deserved and hard fought piont against improving Preston today, PNE's defending was superb today and especially there goalkeeper Dave Lucas who stopped certain goals from Michael Tonge and Peter Ndlovu.

The only goal of the game was an own goal from Graeme Alexander , a great whipped in ball from Michael Tonge was unluckily deflected into the net on 58 minutes.

The Blades are now cementing themselves a playoff place and it's through sheer hard work and motivation , Preston are making head roads still and if they can turn todays performance into a victory in the next few games they themselves could see the playoff door opening slightly.  

Man Of The Match

David Lucas - Preston

Watford 1 Bradford 0

A last gasp penalty broke the hearts of a plucky Bantams side that face the stiffiest of relegation fights they have ever been involved in , the hights of that day at Molineux and promotion to the Premier League are well and truly behind them and it's looking very gloomy around Bradford of late.

Fair play to Watford though they were by far the better side throughout the game and maybe just maybe deserved the three pionts but what a time to score it , Lewis Emanuel brought Jermaine Pennant down in full flight and Neil Cox was the hero of the day slotting home the penalty that gets Watford back on track off a layoff place.

Bradford did have there moments and possibly rue a golden chance Claus Jorgensen seeing a 30 yard well saved by Watford keeper Alec Chamberlain ,when the lucks against you it's well and truly against you.

Man Of The Match

Neil Cox - Watford

Wimbledon 1 Stoke 1

If Stoke survive the drop from Division One this season they can look back on this result as the turning point , Both teams played decent football in front of yet another sparce crowd of 1,697 . Both Stoke and Wimbledon had chances in the first half to score goals but the real action didn't come until the last ten minutes.

Wimbledon got the goal they thought would win the game which came from David Connelly , he raced onto a clever flick through ball by Neil Shipperly to power a sweet strike into the net , Stoke levelled up at the death , Chris Iwelumo got onto a great James O Connor cross to loop a great header over the stranded keeper and send the away fans crazy .

Man Of The Match

Steve Banks - Stoke