Carlisle United 3 Brighton & Hove Albion 1

Attendance 5,333

Marc Bridge-Wilkinson scored twice in Carlisle United’s first win in 13 games since beating Southend United 2-1 at Brunton Park on September 6. Greg Abbott, the caretaker manager, said: “The players have taken some criticism lately but they deserve all the plaudits for their energy, entertainment and determination and no little quality.” Matt Richards pulled a goal back for Brighton and Hove Albion but Micky Adams, their manager, said that his side had been well beaten. “We weren’t good enough and made bad decisions,” he said.

Colchester United 0 Walsall 2

Attendance 4,071

Versatility was the key to victory for Walsall, who arrived in East Anglia on the back of successive cup defeats. Goals from Dwayne Mattis and Michael Ricketts gave them a deserved win. Jimmy Mullen, the Walsall manager, said: “We have to chop and change and put players into different positions. We came with only 19 players fit, including two goalkeepers.” Paul Lambert, the Colchester United manager, felt that his side lacked the sharpness required. “Look at the possession we had,” he said. “But they made it difficult.”

Crewe Alexandra 0 Leyton Orient 2

Attendance 3,872

Crewe Alexandra supporters again called for Steve Holland, the manager, to be sacked but the first-team coach remained defiant despite his side’s latest defeat. Second-half goals from Tamika Mkandawire and Adam Boyd gave Leyton Orient victory at Gresty Road and left Crewe rooted to the bottom of the table. Holland said: “We are all desperately disappointed but I am not embarrassed by my team. I am embarrassed by our league position.” Martin Ling, the Orient manager, said that “it is nice to be out of the bottom four”.

Hartlepool United 1 Milton Keynes Dons 3

Attendance 4,021

Sam Collins, the Hartlepool United defender, was sent off in the 27th minute at Victoria Park after tangling with Jemal Johnson. “I thought it was a harsh decision,” Roberto Di Matteo, the MK Dons manager said. “And of course it helped us a lot.” Dean Lewington and Mark Wright scored in quick succession to put the visiting team in control. Sean O’Hanlon’s own goal gave Hartlepool hope but Daniel Powell, a substitute, scored a third goal for MK Dons in injury time. Danny Wilson, the Hartlepool manager, described the decision to send off Collins as “awful”.

Hereford United 3 Cheltenham Town 0

Attendance 3,761

Matt Murray, the goalkeeper, shone on his Hereford United debut at Edgar Street, where Steve Guinan scored twice against his former club. Murray, on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers, earned the praise of Graham Turner, the Hereford manager. “The defenders must be delighted to have a goalkeeper of his stature behind them,” Turner said. Martin Allen, the Cheltenham Town manager, was annoyed by the first-half display. “It was very disappointing, individual errors cost us goals,” Allen said. “We had too many players found wanting.”

Millwall 1 Stockport County 0

Attendance 9,030

Dave Martin’s stunning free kick in the 74th minute secured promotion-chasing Millwall victory. But they rode their luck, with Anthony Pilkington striking a shot from 25 yards that hit the crossbar in the eighth minute. Kenny Jackett, the Millwall manager, said: “Once we got the goal it would have been nice to get the second, for which we had numerous opportunities, but in the end it was a terrific clean sheet.” Jim Gannon, the Stockport County manager, said: “I warned the lads about set plays and the possibility of them scoring from one.”

Northampton Town 0 Oldham Athletic 1

Attendance 5,067

Oldham Athletic maintained their promotion challenge thanks to a late penalty by Andy Liddell after Lee Hughes had been felled in the box by a challenge from Jason Crowe. Hughes was sent off in the final minute for a second bookable offence but John Sheridan, the Oldham manager, focused on the overall display. “These were three important points,” he said. “Northampton will beat plenty of sides here,” Stuart Gray, the Northampton manager, said: “It was the most disappointing performance since I have been here.”

Swindon Town 2 Leicester City 2

Attendance 9,499

Barry Corr’s first goal of the season completed a thrilling fightback for Swindon Town. Corr climbed off the bench 14 minutes from time to galvanise a side who had fallen behind to two second-half goals from Matt Oakley, the Leicester City captain, and Matty Fryatt, their leading scorer. Simon Cox pulled one back and Corr completed the revival. Nigel Pearson, the Leicester manager, said: “We should have had enough to see the game out.” Davie Byrne, the Swindon caretaker manager, said: “Even when we were 2-0 down I still felt we had been the better side.”

Tranmere Rovers 2 Southend United 2

Attendance 5,019

There could have been more red cards than the two shared between the sides, according to Steve Tilson, the Southend United manager. He had no arguments with Craig Pawson after the referee sent off Francis Laurent for a headbutt and then dismissed Steve Jennings, the Tranmere midfield player, for a second yellow card. “The referee got both dismissals right and there could easily have been more,” Tilson said. Ronnie Moore, the Tranmere manager, said: “Southend rode their luck, but there were a lot of positives for us.”

Yeovil Town 0 Peterborough United 1

Attendance 4,001

Darren Ferguson paid tribute to the character of his Peterborough United side after they battled to a 1-0 win. The only goal came after 36 minutes when a clearance from Gareth Owen struck Craig Mackail-Smith in the face and rebounded kindly for Aaron Mclean to run unmarked into the area and fire home. “We had to dig in,” Ferguson, the Peterborough manager, said. Yeovil Town are hoping to sign Luke Rodgers, the Port Vale striker, this week after Russell Slade, their manager, said: “Our Achilles heel is that we can’t score a goal.”