Once again there were plenty of talking points from today’s action in the Football League this afternoon. In the Championship only one home side recorded a victory, whilst in League One a new manager got off to a winning start and there is a new leader at the top of League Two. Those are just some of the talking points from today but we are focusing on matters at the top of the three respective divisions.

Late drama at the Macron

Brighton looked all set to extend their lead at the top of the Championship to six points; however Neil Lennon’s Bolton side had other ideas. Fifteen minutes from time as the visitors led 2-1, summer signing from Sheffield United Jamie Murphy received a red card. That handed the Trotters all of the incentive that they needed as Gary Madine popped up in added time to earn them a fine point. Lennon has this week been desperately searching for a striker on loan, but now Madine is amongst the goals he now has a centre forward full of confidence once again. It would be fair to say that Bolton deserved a point from this game, whilst Brighton at least continue their unbeaten start to the season.

Championship Results:

MK Dons 1 – 3 Derby County; Birmingham City 0 -2 Rotherham United; Brentford 1 – 2 Sheffield Wednesday; Burnley 1 – 2 Reading; Cardiff City 2 – 1 Charlton Athletic; Hull City 1 – 1 Blackburn Rovers; Ipswich Town 2 – 2 Bristol City; Preston North End 1 – 1 Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Burton increase lead on League One summit

Burton Albion continued their fine start to the season with a fine 2-1 away victory at Chesterfield. They came from behind to earn all three points to extend their lead at the top of the table to three points. Sam Hird’s early header was cancelled out with two goals in the second half. The first of those came after what must have been a rousing Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink team talk as last season’s Club Player of the Year Stuart Beavon equalised 30 seconds after the restart. A point away to Chesterfield would’ve resembled a decent point on the road for the Brewers but they sensed more in added time. Crystal Palace loan man Jerome Binnom-Williams popped up late on to spark wild scenes in the away end. Burton next face Sheffield United at home in what is already an early season promotion clash.

League One Results:

Barnsley 2 – 0 Gillingham; Bradford City 0 – 2 Peterborough United; Bury 2 – 1 Coventry City; Fleetwood Town 1 – 2 Port Vale; Millwall 3 – 1 Rochdale; Oldham Athletic 1 – 1 Wigan Athletic; Sheffield United 3 – 1 Doncaster Rovers; Shrewsbury Town 2 – 0 Blackpool; Southend United 2 – 1 Scunthorpe United; Swindon Town 1 – 2 Colchester United; Walsall 1 – 1 Crewe Alexandra.

Pompey play up the table

Portsmouth remain the only unbeaten side in League Two and one of only two in the entire Football League, along with Brighton & Hove Albion, who have yet to taste defeat. A trip to a hostile Memorial Ground today marked one of their tougher assignments so far in this campaign but a 2-1 victory over Bristol Rovers is certainly a fine days’ work. Their preparations in the week were disrupted after three goalkeepers were all ruled out; meaning that Wolves loanee Aaron McCarey donned the gloves in this encounter. He didn’t keep the clean sheet that he wanted but Jayden Stockley’s strike with twenty minutes remaining ensured that Pompey move to the top of the table. Perhaps Paul Cook is set to bring the good times back to Fratton Park and their start to this season certainly gives them plenty of hope.

League Two Results:

Barnet 3 – 1 Dagenham & Redbridge; Cambridge United 1 – 0 Stevenage; Carlisle United 0 – 1 Newport County; Crawley Town 0 – 3 Accrington Stanley; Exeter City 0 – 2 Wycombe Wanderers; Luton Town 2 – 0 AFC Wimbledon; Mansfield Town 0 – 0 Plymouth Argyle; Northampton Town 1 – 1 Leyton Orient; Notts County 1 – 0 York City; Oxford United 0 – 0 Morecambe; Yeovil Town 1 – 2 Hartlepool United.