Brentford 2 (MacDonald 45, Weston 70) Stockport County 0
Charlie MacDonald and Myles Weston were on target as Brentford won for the first time in four games. It will ease the pressure on Andy Scott’s players, but the manager said: “I’ve always been one to try and create a positive atmosphere. Of course, at the back of their minds they are always aware that their mistakes are going to be highlighted. But they are strong characters.” Gary Ablett, the Stockport manager, said: “We made individual errors which have cost us dearly. We matched Brentford and have to think we are going in the right direction.” Attendance 5,045

Brighton & Hove Albion 0 Oldham Athletic 2 (Abbott 57, Hazell 81)
Russell Slade, the Brighton manager, is under pressure after another defeat that left his team in the bottom four. “More than ever I want to be successful at this club,” Slade said. “You’ve got to be strong enough to turn things around. It’s not where we want to be but we’re not going to run away from it.” Pawel Abbott and Reuben Hazell were on target for Oldham, but Sean Gregan, the defender, was singled out for praise by Dave Penney, his manager. “Sean has been immense as a leader, person and player since coming back to the club,” Penney said. Attendance 6,205

Bristol Rovers 1 (Dickson 46) Yeovil Town 2 (Obika 61, Forbes 64)
Terrell Forbes scored his first goal in a 369-game career to clinch victory for Yeovil Town. “I’ve never been so happy,” the defender said. “It popped off my knee — so now I don’t want to wash my knee.” Chris Dickson volleyed the home side into the lead from Stuart Campbell’s free kick before Jonathan Obika headed Yeovil level. Forbes then struck from Andrew Welsh’s free kick to the anger of Paul Trollope, the Rovers manager. “We should have been in control, but the two wide free kicks we conceded from were massive disappointments,” Trollope said. Attendance 7,812

Carlisle United 2 (Péricard 11, Anyinsah 80) Southend United 1 (Laurent 42)
Vincent Péricard helped to ease the pressure on Greg Abbott, the Carlisle United manager, by bringing to an end a run of seven games without a win. The Frenchman scored Carlisle’s first and set up the decisive effort for Joe Anyinsah. “The manager made me feel good which is why I signed for the club,” Péricard said. Francis Laurent profited from Lenny Pidgeley’s error for Southend United’s goal and believed his side deserved to share the points. “We looked comfortable when we levelled and we were unfortunate not to get something from the game,” he said. Attendance 4,551

Colchester United 2 (Lisbie 26, 61 pen) Walsall 1 (Byfield 28)
Two goals from Kevin Lisbie moved Colchester into third place and continued their revival under Adrian Boothroyd, but the manager was far from happy. “We were lacklustre and Walsall were better in the first half,” he said. “I had a few things to say at half-time. It’s like when you have an argument with your wife, you tend to come out and put a brave face on. Only one team was going to win it in the second half.” Chris Hutchings, the Walsall manager, lamented the penalty conceded by Josh Payne that led to Lisbie’s second goal. “It cost us the game,” he said. Attendance 4,880

Exeter City 1 (Corr 90) Wycombe Wanderers 1 (Harrold 42 pen)
Gary Waddock senses that Wycombe are making progress since he took over this month. A stoppage-time goal from Barry Corr deprived his side of their first away win of the season, but Waddock said: “We are slowly getting them to play the type of football we want. I was pleased with the way we dug in. Exeter threw a lot at us, but we stood up to the challenge until the final few seconds.” Scott Shearer, the goalkeeper, pulled off several fine saves as Exeter put them under pressure after Matt Harrold had put Wycombe ahead from the spot. Attendance 5,227

Gillingham 1 (Jackson 82) Charlton 1 (Nutter 79 og)
John Nutter, the Gillingham defender, looked to have decided this derby with an own goal until Simeon Jackson’s equaliser on 82 minutes. Nutter, who haplessly converted Therry Racon’s cross on 79 minutes, said: “I think my own goal was the best shot they had on target. I’ve given Simeon a big kiss because he dug me out of a hole.” Izale McLeod, the Charlton Athletic forward, thought that he was denied a penalty in the fifth minute. “It was a stonewall penalty,” McLeod said. “If the referee watches it [on television], he’ll know he’s made a mistake.” Attendance 10,304

Hartlepool United 1 (Hartley 43) Tranmere Rovers 0
Peter Hartley backed Hartlepool to reach the play-offs after scoring his first league goal and condemning Tranmere Rovers to more misery. “That is what we are aiming for and we are in there with a chance at the moment,” he said. “It is nice that my first goal for the club proved to be the winning one.” Rovers remain in the relegation places under Les Parry, the caretaker manager, after the sacking of John Barnes, but Ian Thomas-Moore, the Rovers forward, believes that the club can climb to safety. “It is a fresh start under Les,” he said. Attendance 3,428

Huddersfield Town 4 (Roberts 45, Clarke 57, Collins 74, Rhodes 90) Leyton Orient 0
Jordan Rhodes refuses to be distracted by the continued transfer speculation that his goals are generating. The division’s highest scorer collected his twelfth goal of the season and said: “All I want to do is to carry on scoring goals. I cannot help what is being said about me.” Lee Clark, the Huddersfield manager, has been told he does not have to sell the forward. Ben Chorley, the Orient defender, would certainly like a striker such as Rhodes in his team. “We need to start scoring goals to get us away from the wrong end of the table,” he said. Attendance 13,396

Norwich City 1 (Martin 32) Swindon Town 0
Fraser Forster, the Norwich goalkeeper, made amends for the mistake that cost his team a point away to Leeds United a week ago by keeping a clean sheet. Forster, on loan from Newcastle, said: “I’m pleased to finish with a clean sheet after Monday night, which was disappointing. The lads defended brilliantly and I didn’t have that much to do.” Norwich had scored nine goals in their previous two home games, but had to settle for a first-half effort from Chris Martin. “It was a sloppy goal and was the difference between the teams,” said Danny Wilson, the Swindon manager. Attendance 24,959

Southampton 3 (Hammond 56, Lambert 74, Connolly 90) Milton Keynes Dons 1 (Puncheon 45)
Southampton recovered from an early goal by Jason Puncheon, the Milton Keynes Dons forward, to extend their winning run in the league to four. Alan Pardew, the Southampton manager, had told his players before the match that he would not settle for a draw. “I certainly wouldn’t have said that at the start of the season,” Pardew said. “That shows where we’re at now. We’re paid to win; professionals are not paid to go through their careers being average and settling for that. The boys delivered. They turned it up a notch in the second half.” Attendance 21,387