League One Review: 17 September

Another weekend and we have new leaders in League One, in addition to a change at the bottom. Here is your League One Review:

 

Shrewsbury Town 0-1 Scunthorpe United

A David Mirfin strike five minutes into first half stoppage time has moved Scunthorpe up to first in League One.

But the hosts began stronger, and could have taken the lead through Jim O’Brien’s free kick, which sailed over, before Shaun Whalley’s volley was saved.

Paddy Madden was then denied for the Iron by Jayson Leutwiler, before Kevin van Veen struck wide.

The visitors were awarded a free kick deepening first half stoppage time, and Mirfin was on hand to head home from Josh Morris’s delivery.

In the second half, Scunthorpe could have doubled their lead but for Madden firing wide from close range, and it could have been costly when Junior Brown saw his free kick sail just wide.

 

Walsall 1-0 Bolton Wanderers

Bolton lost for the first time this season as they fell behind to a Jason Mccarthy goal against ten men Walsall.

The Trotters could have taken the lead after ten minutes, but Jamie Proctor’s looping header struck the bar.

Then, a potential turning point when the Saddlers Joe Edwards was dismissed for an elbow on Chris Taylor.

But the ten men regrouped, and nine minutes later they were ahead. Bolton keeper Mark Howard made a mistake at the back, and McCarthy bundled the ball in.

The away side came close to levelling two minutes later, but Lewis Buxton’s header was cleared off the line.

Bolton pushed in the second half, and forced Saddlers goalkeeper Neil Etheridge into multiple saves; denying David Wheater twice, a 20 yard drive from Taylor and a Proctor volley.

After failing to level, Phil Parkinson’s side then also went a man down in stoppage time, when Keshi Anderson received a second yellow.

 

Swindon Town 1-2 Bury

Hallam Hope scored twice as Bury took all three points against Swindon at the County Ground.

Hope gave the visitors the lead after thirteen minutes when he pounced on a rebound after Jacob Mellis’s header was saved, before Swindon had a goal ruled out for offside despite referee Charles Breakspear initially ruling a goal.

Just before the break, Hope netted his second of the afternoon to double the visitors advantage, slotting into the bottom corner.

Jon Obika reduced the deficit for the Robins in the second half, but the hosts were unable to find an equaliser.

 

Bradford City 1-1 Bristol Rovers

Bradford remain in the top four despite recording their fourth successive draw.

Matt Taylor came close to opening the scoring for the Gas in an uneventful first half, before James Meredith headed the hosts into the lead following a stoppage in play following a drone entering the field!

But the visitors managed to salvage a late equaliser when substitute Charlie Colkett capitalised on a slip by defender Romain Vincelot to level with four minutes remaining.

That said, Bradford could have snatched all three points at the death, but Gas goalkeeper Kelle Roos denied Harris Vuckic from a header.

 

Port Vale 2-1 Gillingham

Port Vale kept their 100% home record in tact with a win over Gillingham.

But it was the visitors that took a first half lead; Josh Wright found the back of the net after a well worked Gills corner.

The hosts improved in the second half, and Remie Streete saw his long range effort hit the woodwork.

But Streete managed an equaliser for the hosts after he was the quickest to react following a save from Jonathan Bond.

And then with six minutes remaining, top scorer Alex Jones netted the winner after a low drive from the edge of the box.

 

Sheffield United 1-0 Peterborough United

Sheffield United kept their winning run going as Chris Wilder’s side edged past Peterborough at Bramall Lane.

The hosts began stronger, with Billy Sharpe striking on target, before Daniel Lafferty saw his effort deflect wide.

But they didn’t have to wait long for the opener. Thirteen minutes in, Matt Done, who had already forced Luke McGee into a save, steered the ball past the goalkeeper at the near post.

Posh’s Chris Forrester saw his effort deflect wide, before Blades keeper Simon Moore denied Paul Taylor.

Substitute Stefan Scougall came close to doubling the hosts advantage, but McGee denied him also, before Moore produced a great save to keep out Gwion Edwards.

 

Rochdale 2-1 Fleetwood Town

Rochdale moved off the bottom of League One as they recorded their first win of the season over in-form Fleetwood.

Dale looked bright from the start, and took the lead through Matty Lund’s header, which fired into the roof of the net.

But the Cod Army levelled thirteen minutes later from the spot after Harrison McGahey fouled Chris Long. Former Dale man Bobby Grant successfully converted from the spot to level the match.

Long, looking to make amends following conceding the penalty, came close to restoring the hosts lead on two occasions, but with time running out and a draw looking likely, substitute Steven Davies headed home the winner to give Dale their first win of the season.

 

Southend United 3-1 Millwall

Southend moved out of the bottom four as they won at home against Millwall.

The Shrimpers, who were yet to win at home this season and had won one from their seven games, took a sixth minute lead when David Mooney controlled and struck, via a deflection, to give Phil Brown’s side the lead.

But the Lions hit back with ten minutes of the first half remaining when Aiden O’Brien poked home from close range.

Southend began the second half the way they began the first, and regained the lead after five minutes, with Stephen McLaughlin lashing home.

Luke O’Neill added a third with time running out to deny Millwall any chance of a comeback, and give Southend a vital home win.

 

Chesterfield 3-1 Northampton Town

Northampton saw their impressive 31 game unbeaten league run come to an end as they lost for the first time at Chesterfield.

Conor Wilkinson gave the Spireites a seventh minute lead, before the on-loan Brighton forward added a second shortly after the restart. The Cobblers had first half chances, but failed to convert.

Paul Anderson reduced the deficit after beating Ryan Fulton at the back post, but Dion Donohue sealed the hosts first win in five shortly after.

 

MK Dons 0-0 Oxford United

MK Dons poor winless home run continued after Oxford shared the spoils at Stadium MK.

But the hosts started brightly, and were denied an opener after Kieran Agard rounded Simon Eastwood, only to be denied by Chey Dunkley on the line.

But the visitors, who have picked up seven points from a possible nine, also had chances, but Wes Thomas saw his close range header saved by David Martin.

Both sides created more in the second half, but it was a good day for both sets of defences, with Martin and Eastwood the important players on both sides respectively.

 

Charlton Athletic 1-2 AFC Wimbledon

Charlton wasted several goalscoring opportunities as they lost at home to AFC Wimbledon.

But the Addicks took the lead inside ten minutes when Ademola Lookman’s eighth minute effort from twenty yards gave Russell Slade’s side the advantage.

Lookman could have had a second in the first half, before Ricky Holmes second half effort was saved by James Shea.

Holmes and Nicky Ajose missed further chances, which ultimately proved costly when Dominic Poleon equalised with just over ten minutes remaining.

And with five minutes remaining, Tyrone Barnett headed in Barry Fuller’s cross to give the Dons all three points.

 

Coventry City 0-0 Oldham Athletic

Coventry dropped to bottom of League One as their search for a first win continued after they played out a goalless draw at home to Oldham

The hosts began stronger, but as has been the story this season, they failed to convert their chances into goals.

Jodi Jones saw a couple of efforts fail to hit the target, before Marvin Sordell failed to convert following good Sky Blues play.

Paul Green saw his effort deflect wide for the visitors, who created little in the first half, before Marcus Tudgay headed wide for the hosts.

The Latics improved in the second half, with Ollie Banks and Green both missing the target, before Lee Erwin struck the bar.

Banks then had two efforts saved, but neither side managed to find a breakthrough and the points were shared at the Ricoh Arena.