It's Round and It's White
Sam Robinson delivers his latest League One round-up.
Debut goals from Matt Derbyshire and Jose Baxter earned Oldham a point at home to 10-man Notts County, who had Andre Boucaud sent off in the first half. It was the Magpies who took the lead through Joss Labadie but were immediately pegged back by Derbyshire’s goal. County, unperturbed by the setback, regained the lead when Jamal Campbell-Ryce’s cross sailed over home goalkeeper Alex Cisak but Baxter levelled with five minutes remaining.
The point wasn’t enough to keep County on top as Tranmere took advantage of the slip-up to sneak back to the summit and dispel the idea of the Manager of the Month curse thanks to Jake Cassidy and Andy Robinson, who secured a 2-0 win over Coventry City. The Sky Blues are in the relegation zone, have no manager and are without a league win this season.
At the other end of the table, Walsall continued their good form with an excellent win at Fratton Park. James Baxendale’s stunner cannoned in off the underside of the bar and Florent Cuvelier’s drive against his former club doubled the Saddlers’ lead. Izale McLeod’s goal proved to be nothing more than a consolation.
Scunthorpe picked up their first win and ended Shrewsbury’s 32 game unbeaten run at the Greenhous Meadow. Leon Clarke’s second goal in as many games earned the Iron a 1-0 win. However, they still remain in the bottom four but this win may ease some of the pressure on manager Alan Knill.
Crawley erased the memory of their 3-0 hammering at home to Portsmouth last weekend with a 2-1 win at Preston. Captain Gary Alexander scored both Crawley goals as Paul Huntington’s injury-time goal was in vain for the home side. Tempers boiled over between the respective managers, Graham Westley and Richie Barker, after the game with the Westley claiming that Barker celebrated the win “like it was the World Cup final”.
Leyton Orient made strides up the league as Stoke City loanee Ryan Brunt came off the bench to score his first goal for the club and give them a 1-0 win at home to local rivals Brentford. In picking up a second successive victory, the O’s climbed out of the relegation zone and up to 16th.
Colchester, meanwhile, remain winless and bottom as Doncaster took all three points back to Yorkshire from the Weston Homes Community Stadium. David Cotterill’s early goal gave Rovers the lead but powerful centre-back Magnus Okuonghae equalised for the U’s. Andy Bond’s own goal shortly after the interval gifted the win to Dean Saunders’ side, though.
Stevenage preserved their unbeaten start to the season by coming from 2-0 down to earn a draw at home to Crewe. A quick-fire Ajay Leitch-Smith double within the first 10 minutes gave the Alex a comfortable lead but Luke Freeman pulled a goal back before the break. Crewe’s Arsenal loanee Chuks Aneke then saw red for a two-footed lunge at Anthony Grant and Robin Shroot made the one-man advantage count with the equaliser 10 minutes from time.
Yeovil’s early season form seems to be a thing of the past as Charlie MacDonald’s 75th minute goal helped MK Dons climb to 8th, sitting outside the play-offs on goal difference whilst Yeovil are in the top six by the same virtue.
Bury picked up a valuable point at Brammall Lane as Sheffield United drew for the fourth time in six games. Nick Blackman had given the Blades the lead but Peter Sweeney’s free-kick earned the Shakers a share of the spoils.
Matt Tubbs was Bournemouth’s saviour as his injury-time goal spared his own blushes after an earlier embarrassing miss and ensured his side avoided defeat. Simon Walton’s penalty looked as though it was going to give Hartlepool the win but Tubbs had the last word.
Carlisle and Swindon also shared the points and four goals at Brunton Park. A Jake Jervis brace was cancelled out by Adam Rooney and Paul Benson as Paolo Di Canio’s side ended their run of three straight defeats.
