EFL midweek round-up: Barnsley boss Poya Asbaghi ecstatic with victory

ECSTATIC Barnsley boss Poya Asbaghi believes survival would be his greatest achievement following a vital 2-0 win over Bristol City.

Carlton Morris and Michal Helik both scored inside 25 minutes to secure what could be a precious victory.

“This challenge would be my highest achievement,” said Asbaghi.

“But the only thing we have done with these good performances is given ourselves a chance.

“We haven’t accomplished anything but at least we have some sort of control over our destiny now going into the last games of the season.”

The gap to safety is just two points after fourth-bottom Reading picked up an important point away at Bournemouth.

Dominic Solanke seemed to have secured a Cherries victory, but Tom Ince, son of interim boss Paul, notched his first Royals goal with seven minutes remaining to snatch a draw.

Steve Bruce’s improving West Brom are now unbeaten in three after inflicting leaders Fulham’s first away defeat since early October courtesy of Callum Robinson’s 64th-minute goal.

Chris Wilder’s Middlesbrough won 2-0 at Birmingham to move into the play-off places, with Aaron Connolly and Folarin Balogun on the mark.

A second half comeback by Blackburn saw them climb a rung to fourth and leave Wayne Rooney’s Derby six points adrift of safety.

Ravel Morrison turned home in the first-half, but a quickfire double from Scott Wharton and Tyrhys Dolan turned the game on its head before the hour mark. Sam Gallagher made it 3-1 at the death.

League One

MORECAMBE’S survival hopes took a major hit as they lost 5-0 at Shrewsbury.

Luke Leahy and Daniel Udoh both grabbed braces and Ryan Bowman got the other for the Shrews.

Ryan Hardie’s 15th goal of the season gave Plymouth their fourth straight win. The 1-0 victory left opponents Portsmouth eight points off the play-offs.

Sheffield Wednesday passed up the opportunity to move into the top six after failing to beat Accrington.
Callum Paterson had Wednesday leapfrogging Sunderland until Marvin Johnson’s own goal gave Stanley a 1-1 draw.

League One’s top two both recorded routine wins. Two goals in the first 15 minutes saw Rotherham ease to a 2-1 victory against Lincoln and Wigan won 2-0 at bottom club Crewe.

Gillingham lost 1-0 at Charlton, while Wycombe remain just outside the play-off places after a last-gasp 1-0 win over Fleetwood.

League Two

WEMBLEY-BOUND Sutton dropped out of League Two’s play-off places as they fell 2-1 at fellow challengers Swindon.

Goals from Josh Davison and Harry McKirdy sandwiched Joe Kizzi’s header as a second defeat since reaching the Papa John’s Trophy final saw Sutton fall to eighth.

Leaders Forest Green’s winless run stretched to seven games, with Ruel Sotiriou securing a point for Leyton Orient after Matty Stevens’ opener.

Northampton, Newport, and Exeter all won 2-1 – against Stevenage, Carlisle and Crawley respectively.

Tranmere saw off Harrogate 2-0 and Bristol Rovers won 1-0 over Colchester for their fourth win in five.

At the bottom, Oldham have now lost three straight after a 2-1 loss at Walsall, while Barrow moved six points clear of relegation with a vital 1-0 win at basement side Scunthorpe.

Bradford won 2-0 at Hartlepool, Port Vale beat Mansfield 3-1 and Rochdale and Salford drew 1-1.

Written by JOE ACKLAM