Luton manager Matt Bloomfield finally picked up a first long-awaited win at the ninth attempt as the Hatters climbed off the bottom of the Championship table by beating Portsmouth 1-0 at Kenilworth Road.
The hosts, who were without a victory in their last 12 second-tier fixtures, came under pressure in the opening stages, Colby Bishop’s close-range prod hitting the covering Amari’i Bell and going over the bar.
Alfie Doughty had two shots blocked away from a short free-kick that was rolled into him, as Town’s best opportunity came after 21 minutes when visiting defender Regan Poole’s backpass to keeper Nicolas Schmid was overhit, forcing the Austrian stopper to sprint back and clear in the nick of time.
Town had the lead after 25 minutes though with a goal that started from their own box, full debutant Chris Makosso cutting out a free-kick and Jordan Clark motoring away from inside his own D.
The recalled midfielder eventually found Jacob Brown to his left, the forward’s cross turned towards his own goal by Marlon Pack where it hit the post, Clark reacting first to race in and bury the rebound.
Doughty almost made it 2-0 on the half hour when his low blast drew a crucial deflection behind from Poole.
Josh Murphy aimed for a leveller, getting it all wrong from range, as the visitors had their third yellow of the afternoon when the frustrated winger cleaned out Liam Walsh.
The midfielder recovered to pick out a good pass to Izzy Jones whose shot was blocked, as Clark jumped on to the loose ball and curled his attempt too close to Schmid.
After the break, Portsmouth began with a real spring in their step, half time sub Kaide Gordon’s attempt flying behind.
On the hour mark Town might have had a second though, a corner sent in by Doughty and after a scramble, Jones blasted over from the edge of the box, while Walsh had another effort blocked with Clark dragging wide on his left foot.
In the closing stages, Pompey ramped up the pressure, Cohen Bramall’s cross plucked out of the air by Thomas Kaminski.
John Mousinho’s side then wasted a glorious chance with four minutes left, Christian Saydee’s inch-perfect cross picking out the totally unmarked Connor Ogilvie who somehow put his free header over from just a few yards out.
Portsmouth also had penalty appeals turned away when Kal Naismith appeared to handball inside the area during six minutes of stoppage time, but the Hatters held on to celebrate a first three points since December 20 to breathe some much-needed life into their survival bid.
Burnley boss Scott Parker never doubted his players would maintain their intensity despite promotion having already been achieved.The Clarets emphatically boosted their Sky Bet Championship title hopes by hammering QPR 5-0 in their penultimate match of the season.It moved them to the top of the table, three points ahead of Leeds, although the Yorkshire side, who are at home to Bristol City on Mond...
Darren Moore could not hide his pride at steering Port Vale back into League One following a 2-0 win over AFC Wimbledon.Two second-half goals from Jayden Stockley and Jaheim Headley sealed an immediate return to the third tier for the Vale Park outfit.As players and fans alike celebrated in the away end, Moore reflected on the achievement – and admitted his focus in this match was on gaining...
Richie Wellens felt the overall display from his Leyton Orient team was excellent in their 1-0 victory over Wycombe.Orient took another step towards the play-offs after Randell Williams’ second-half header proved the difference at Brisbane Road.It was Orient’s fifth successive win and they now travel to Huddersfield next Saturday knowing that, with their superior goal difference, they ...
Notts County all-but guaranteed their place in the League Two play-offs courtesy of a 3-1 victory at Harrogate.The Magpies ended their four-match winless run thanks to Conor Grant’s second-half brace, leaving them fifth in the table and six points clear of eighth-placed Colchester.County took the lead in the 33rd minute when George Abbott fired home after David McGoldrick’s initial eff...
Luton climbed out of the Championship bottom three for the first time since January thanks to Shandon Baptiste’s 90th-minute goal as they beat play-off chasing Coventry 1-0.The Hatters looked like they would go to West Brom next weekend with their destiny definitely out of their own hands, only for Baptiste, who had been on the field for just 11 minutes, to find the net and lift the roof off...
Leyton Orient remain on course for the Sky Bet League One play-offs after a 1-0 win which dented Wycombe’s hopes of automatic promotion.Randell Williams scored the only goal of the game and Orient’s victory, their fifth in succession, leaves them ahead of seventh-placed Reading on goal difference.Defeat for the Chairboys, though, has handed the initiative to Wrexham, who could seal the...
Doncaster clinched promotion to League One after goals from Rob Street and Billy Sharp secured a 2-1 win over 10-man Yorkshire rivals Bradford.In an incident-packed encounter in front of over 12,500 fans – the Eco-Power Stadium’s biggest crowd of the season – Doncaster hit the post through Jordan Gibson before on-loan Lincoln striker Street gave Rovers a 33rd-minute lead with his...
Reading’s hunt for a Sky Bet League One play-off spot will go to the final day of the season after the Royals beat Bristol Rovers 2-0 at the Memorial Stadium.Lewis Wing’s eighth league goal of the season after 67 minutes and Chem Campbell’s added-time effort leaves the Pirates staring at relegation after Noel Hunt’s side had to survive a first-half onslaught from the hosts....
Jamie Andrews struck a late equaliser as Woking twice came from behind to draw 2-2 with Eastleigh in the National League.Tyrese Shade put the visitors in front after 14 minutes, played in on goal by Ben Close before finding the bottom corner of the net.Woking then drew level three minutes before the break when Aiden O’Brien headed in from Jacob Jones’ free-kick.Shade had Eastleigh back...
Port Vale secured automatic promotion to League One after beating AFC Wimbledon 2-0 at the Cherry Red Records Stadium.Second-half goals by Jayden Stockley and Jaheim Hedley ensured Vale would finish in the top three and also made a dent in the home side’s push for the play-offs.Vale created the first real attempt of the game which saw Lorent Tolaj fire over from 12 yards out following a cros...
- 1 Transfer news & rumours LIVE
- 2 Cole Palmer’s girlfriend Connie Grace dazzles in low-cut top and mini skirt
- 3 Man Utd & Man City join PSG in race for Akliouche
- 4 We always have a chance – Miron Muslic bullish as Plymouth boost survival hopes
- 5 Tottenham to compete with Man City for defender
- 6 Ten-man Falkirk beaten by Raith as late goals keep title race alive
- 7 Big Brother legend Chanelle Hayes flaunts weight loss in red bikini
- 8 Transfer news & rumours LIVE
- 9 Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola fumes over point claimed at 10-man Crystal Palace
- 10 Daily Laugh - Totttenham 1-2 N Forest