Birmingham City 2 AFC Bournemouth 4

Yann Kermorgant warned Bournemouth's rivals: We have nothing to fear - you do!

Kermorgant shrugged off an early knock to his ankle to play his part in destroying relegation-threatened Birmingham and edged the unfancied Cherries closer to the play-off places.

Winger Matt Ritchie scored one and nineteen goal hit man Lewis Grabban added a brace as Bournemouth toyed with the Blues in the first half before defender Ian Harte scored a fourth after the break.

Kermorgant's slide-rule pass led to Grabban's second from the spot after Darren Randolph recklessly brought down the striker in the box. 

Former Charlton striker Kermorgant, 32, then said:

"We want to be in the rush towards the end - and why not? There's less pressure on our shoulders than maybe Reading, QPR or Brighton who are expected to be in the top six at the end of the season.

"We can create momentum with no pressure if we play every game as we are at the moment. They have pressure, we have no pressure. It could be like Blackpool a few seasons ago. Never been in the play-offs, but got there on the last day and then won them."

And Kernorgant is so impressed with boss Eddie Howe, he is even looking to move his family to the south coast. He revealed:

"We live in London at the moment, but I'm hoping to buy a house down there. It's such a good club and a lot of that is down to him. He's young as well - only a few years older than me. But that's good because football is different to the way it was ten years ago and he can relate to it. Sometimes you get older managers who want to play the game the way it was played twenty years ago."

Substitute Federico Macheda, 22, pulled back two second half goals, but the Manchester United loanee said: 

"I'm happy with the goals, but not happy about the result because the most important thing was that we won.

"We can't understand why we're so low in the table, but that's the reality right now and we've got to stick together and try and win games."

Under-fire Birmingham boss Lee Clark was more concerned with a boot than the sack after winger Jordan Ibe's footwear malfunction left his team one player short for Bournemouth's opener.

Clark was unhappy with his back room staff and complained:

"I couldn't believe how long it took to get the lad back on.

"I'm not blaming the officials because the laws of the game say if it's equipment then the game has to stop before he comes back on. What I need to ask is should my player have come off and, if he did, should we not have been quicker in getting a replacement boot to him?"

Howe was not getting carried away, but admitted:

"We scored four in midweek and five against Doncaster. There are good signs going forward. It was a really good first half for us."

Grabban scored twice in the midweek 4-1 demolition of Leeds and then served up more of the same to punish the woeful Blues.

Bournemouth moved to within five points of the play-offs, but boss Howe played down his team's chances and said:

"I still think it's going to be difficult. You look at the sides above us and their destiny is in their hands not ours.

"We've had a good month. On paper it was tough with a lot of away games, but we've scored a lot of goals and we look a lot more confident."

Grabban even had a hand in Bournemouth's thirteenth minute opener when he floated a cross over from the right for winger Matt Ritchie to volley in his sixth goal of the season from a tight angle.

Former Millwall hit man Grabban netted his first seven minutes later.

Midfielder Harry Arter set Marc Pugh away down the left and the winger's slow cross deflected off Chris Burke and away from helpless keeper Darren Randolph to leave Grabban a simple tap-in at the far post.

But Randolph was fully to blame for Grabban's nineteenth goal of the season from the spot in the 28th minute.

Kermogant left the Birmingham defence flat-footed to pick out co-striker Grabban in the box and Randolph dived at his feet to up-end him with the ball long gone.

Veteran Ian Harte then turned back the years to add a fourth seven minutes after the break as they continued to dominate.

Former Leeds full back Harte, 36, drifted past static midfielder Callum Reilly on the right and curled his first goal of the campaign into the far top corner of Randolph's goal.

Manchester United loanee striker Federico Macheda then netted two himself as Birmingham eventually woke up.

Winger Jordan Ibe nodded down Reilly's cross in the 57th minute and first half substitute Macheda buried a low shot from twelve yards.

In the 73rd minute Macheda scored his seventh goal since joining the Blues in January, when he drilled in a twenty yard volley to leave keeper Lee Camp stranded.

Birmingham could have been more than three goals down at half time.

Ritchie and Grabban both came close shots that flew just over the bar.

And in the second period Ritchie fired an angled shot narrowly wide of the far post while Randolph had to prove his true worth to beat away a fierce drive from Harte.

Birmingham were jeered off after slipping closer to the drop zone and manager Clark fumed:

"All the goals were poor from our point of view - all preventable. Even the penalty was caused by us. We got the ball taken off us for making the wrong decisions.

"We were poor defensively throughout the side. I'm not only blaming the defenders. It looked like we didn't do what was necessary."

Gary Waddock - You read it here first!

The day after Chris Wilder walked out on Oxford, I added a piece to my usual rambling report asking whether Gary Waddock might not be suited to the job. I was delighted to see that he has now been installed as manager and believe that - whatever happens this season - he will eventually get Oxford promoted to League One and he'll do it playing good football.

Meanwhile, my finger wasn't quite on the pulse at Bristol Rovers where John Ward had taken a job upstairs as the Gas fight the dreaded drop out of the league. However, Ward is one of the most honourable men in the game and fans should have no doubts that he will play his part in ensuring their survival.

Walsall 1 Leyton Orient 1

Paul Downing went from fall guy to hero and then back again, but still dented Orient's automatic promotion hopes.

Manager Dean Smith dropped Downing for three outings following a recent nine game winless run that had seen the Saddlers slide out of play-off contention.

But central defender Downing celebrated his return to the starting line-up by scoring his first goal of the season in the fourteenth minute when he fired in Craig Westcarr's corner from twelve yards.

In the 78th minute though, he unwittingly deflected a long range effort from opposite number Nathan Clarke past helpless keeper Richard O'Donnell.

Smith still believes the Saddlers can keep their play-off dream alive. He said:

"We have to keep working hard and continue to believe." 

But Smith was furious and blasted:

"We should've had a foul on Febian Brandy in the build up to their goal. It should've been all three points as their goal shouldn't have stood."

O's skipper Clarke had shut out Walsall twice before Downing's opener.

In the sixth minute Chelsea loanee winger Milan Lalkovic hit the post with a low shot from the edge of the box and Clarke lashed the ball clear as it ran along the goal line.

Three minutes later central defender Clarke blocked winger Brandy's angled goal bound effort from twelve yards.

And Downing made sure his goal counted when he cleared defender Mathieu Baudry's header off other line in the 42nd minute. 

Both keepers kept the score down in the second half.

Orient stopper Eldon Jakpovic did well to beat away a twelve yard strike from Westcarr and then O'Donnell shut out both Chris Dagnall and co-striker David Mooney in the space of one minute.

Orient have now lost two games on the bounce and lost ground on table toppers Wolves and Brentford. 

Boss Russell Slade admitted that the chance of an automatic promotion spot was fading and said:

"I think it's fair to say it's the play-offs, but we'll keep going, we won't stop. If we go into the play-offs we want go into them in the form we showed in the second half."

"We got a valuable point. It might not be enough, but they're a terrific group and they won't give up."

Nathan Clarke is hoping his lucky strike keeps Orient's automatic promotion hopes on track.

Central defender Clarke's 81st minute shot took a wicked deflection off opposite number Paul Downing to cancel out the Walsall player's first half opener, but the O's are now five points adrift with games running out.

Defiant skipper Clarke, 30, said:

"We've got to keep grinding out results because you never know what might happen. If we ease off and then the teams above us have a couple of bad results, we'll be kicking ourselves."

And Clarke admitted he felt for Downing. He said:

"It was tough on him because he had a really good game. It was one of those things. I'll still claim the goal though and I'll try not to lose too much sleep over it!"

Downing, 22, was pleased with his first goal of the season, but also to be back in Walsall's starting eleven after being rested for three games. He said:

"No-one likes to be dropped and I want to play every game, but the manager picks the team and he sees things differently.

"Perhaps if I held my hands up, I'd agree with him. I'd maybe got a little tired and started making one or two errors, so the break's helped me. I feel refreshed - mentally and physically."

Bristol Rovers 0 Southend United 0

Jamar Loza blew a last gasp chance to get Southend's play-off hopes back on track.

Norwich loanee striker Loza headed the ball into the ground and over the bar on his debut from six yards with five minutes to go as the Shrimpers stretched their winless streak to twelve games.

 Assistant manager Dave Penney said:

"If we'd won 1-0 it would've been the perfect performance. We had the chances to win it."

But both teams looked low on confidence in a very poor game and Rovers face a relegation scrap. Boss John Ward admitted:

"It was a dull game. We were a little bit edgy."  

*****

A short report this, but far longer than the game merited! Both teams looked like they were lacking confidence for different reasons. Southend can see their chance of going up slipping away. While Rovers seem to realise the deep trouble they are slipping  towards. 

I think the Gas have the right man in charge to keep them up, but Ward is certainly going to be earning his corn in the next few weeks.

Cheltenham Town 1 Torquay United 0

Mitch Brundle took advantage of the old boys' network in the hope he would launch his career in style.

Bristol City loanee central defender Brundle, 19, filled in at right back and revealed that former Town midfielder Marlon Pack encouraged him to join the club's hunt for a third successive play-off campaign. He explained:

"The decision to join was an easy one and Marlon told me it would be a great move as the club had the players and experience to make the play-offs. So when I signed, I made sure that I had it written into my contract so I'd be available in case we got to Wembley!

"It's been a brilliant experience so far and I'll play wherever I'm needed. I'm just happy to be playing first team football. We all believe we can finish the season really well and finish above eighth place."

Midfielder Matt Richards won the game with an excellent 75th minute volley for his seventh goal of the season and Cheltenham assistant manager Neil Howarth admitted:

"It's nice to be looking at the top of the table. It's been a difficult season, but we're quietly doing okay. I'm looking at the next game and three points rather than the play-offs. Let's see where we are with six games to go."

But Howarth also admitted it was a poor first period and revealed:

"Sometimes there's a little carrot and stick needed, but we tried to be positive at half time and the lads get ten out of ten for effort in the second half. But we were playing a team fighting for their lives and their manager and so it was difficult."

Cheltenham had chances to extend their lead.

Central defender Troy Brown headed inches over from six yards and striker Jamie Cureton blew two great opportunities.

But keeper Scott Brown made sure of the win in the dying minutes when he shut out winger Shamir Goodwin from eight yards.

On the half hour both teams should have opened the scoring within one minute.

Joss Labadie's low shot was saved by Brown and the Robins quickly broke upfield to feed striker Cureton who fired into the side-netting from twelve yards.

This might have been midfielder Labadie's last game of the campaign unless he successfully appeals a ten-match for biting Chesterfield's Ollie Banks.

In first half stoppage time winger Ashley Vincent needed to be alert to hook Torquay midfielder Goodwin's curling 18 yard shot off the line.

Basement club Torquay are seven points from safety, but boss Chris Hargreaves is staying positive despite transport problems and losing Elliot Benyon to illness before the game. He revealed:

"I wanted to start the same side for the first time since I took over, but then at 6:30 the physio called up to say Elliot had sickness and diarrhoea and was out. Then the coach breaks down and you start wondering if someone's trying to tell you something. I've got children though, I can't afford to have a heart attack!" 

Oldham Athletic 0 Rotherham United 2

Lee Frecklington's rocket boosted Rotherham's promotion hopes and left Oldham with mounting relegation worries.

Midfielder Frecklington sealed the win with a 25 yard scorcher in the 64th minute for his tenth of the campaign to leave the Millers firmly in the play-off mix and with a chance of one of the automatic spots.

Right back Mark Bradley had opened the scoring in the 26th minute.

Keeper Mark Oxley fumbled a shot from midfielder Richard Smallwood and Bradley pounced to bury the rebound from twelve yards for his second goal of the season.

Iceland central defender Kari Arnason had chances to put Rotherham out of sight before the break.

Arnason nodded two Ben Pringle deliveries wide and then headed a corner from the winger against the post.

Striker Charlie MacDonald and substitute Danny Philliskirk both came close for the Latics, but stopper Adam Collin did well to shut them out.

Rotherham boss Steve Evans was delighted with the win that kept his side in he promotion hunt and said:

"We can't affect what the other teams do, but if we carry on playing with that application I'll be happy.

"It was a comfortable win. Within half an hour we felt it should've been done and dusted. Some of our passing was outstanding. It was another good victory for us and I thought our midfield four were exceptional."

"Once the second goal went in, you thought it could've been three or four."

Oldham were jeered off at the end of the game and under fire manager Lee Johnson said:

"We are a bit depleted with the squad. To be fair the endeavour was there, but we looked physically weak and we need some help. I'll be working very hard to bring n two or three players this week.

"I'm very disappointed, but I can't say shocked. You can get away with missing two or three players, but not seven or eight.

"It's the loneliest job in the world when you lose games. Who motivates the motivator? But I worked hard to get this job and I'm not going to lie down and die. It's fair to say this is my toughest time as manager."

Walsall 0 Wolverhampton Wanderers 3

Nouha Dicko's hot streak continued as table toppers Wolves equalled a club record to thump their Black Country rivals.

Striker Dicko scored a brace to take his tally to seven goals in as many starts as Wanderers chalked up an eighth win on the trot - their best run since 1988.

And Wolves manager Kenny Jackett is delighted he captured the French 21 year old from Wigan in January. He said:

"I liked him when he was a nineteen year old playing for Blackpool and I've followed his career. He's a constant threat and a good finisher and gets lots of goals in and around the six years box.

"It was a very good win in a potentially tricky game. Scoring the first goal in a derby is important and we'd targeted doing that."

Dicko knocked in his first from two yards on the half hour after impressive winger James Henry shrugged off left back Andy Taylor to whip in a low cross.

Three minutes after the break Dicko was even closer to goal for his second.

Henry provided a dangerous cross from the right again, but this time the ball hit the inside of the post and bounced back across the face of goal for Dicko to chest home.

And after Henry was fouled in the 67th minute, beefy left winger Bakary Sako made sure of the derby rout with a 22 yard free kick directly in front of goal.

Walsall have not won in seven games as their play-off hopes falter and boss Dean Smith said:

"I thought it was a very harsh score line. The second goal was a real kick in the teeth. We had them rattled towards the end of the first half, but then a fortunate goal knocked the stuffing out of us."

Henry called on Wolves table toppers to stick together as they face a gruelling promotion schedule.

Hard working winger Henry, 24, followed Jackett from Millwall and said:

"We've got a great team spirit - not just the eleven on the pitch, but all 25 in the squad. It's going to be 25 players working together as a team, not as individuals, that get us promoted. That's going to be key this month with something like nine games in 28 days. We've got to be pushing for the same thing.

"It's a big, big club and we have to get it back where it needs to be. It's important to get promoted this season, but not stop there."

Meanwhile Taylor told his Walsall team mates to keep the faith and make a charge for the play-offs. He said:

"The good thing about foot ball is that you can get beat 3-0, but the games come thick and fast so the next opportunity comes around really, really quickly. So the main thing is for us to remain positive and put that one to bed.

"There's a big game against  Crewe on Tuesday and then there are big games after that with points up for grabs. We get those points and we're in the play-offs."

Jackett was delighted to equal the club record of eight wins on the bounce, but said:

“If you want an automatic promotion spot you need to go on that sort of run."

Walsall manager Dean Smith remained positive and said:

"It just showed the quality that Kenny's got. The pleasing thing for me is we didn't throw the towel in, we kept going."

Cheltenham 2 Bury 1

Byron Harrison believes clear-the-air talks may have rescued Cheltenham's season.

Substitute Harrison converted Jermaine McGlashan's 82nd minute cross for the winner before revealing that the players and staff had a frank exchange following last Tuesday's 1-4 home drubbing by leaders Chesterfield.

The win against Bury was only Cheltenham's second in ten games and striker Harrison, 26, said:

"What was said will remain within the squad, but things needed to be said. It was getting to a stage when it was becoming really serious. It's healthy that everyone got things off their chests so we can kick on together. Everyone shook hands and we move on."

And Harrison believes the Robins could still make the play-offs for a third consecutive campaign. He said:

"We've got to take it game by game and stick together. We don't want the season to fizzle out and we definitely don't want to get sucked into a relegation battle. We have to be optimistic.

"This league is a crazy one. You can go on a run and find yourself in contention to do something you weren't thinking about a month before. If we go on a little run like we did when we were unbeaten earlier in the season, we could find ourselves battling for that last play-off place."

Striker Clive Platt scored the opener for Bury in the sixteenth minute.

Skipper Craig Jones fed Danny Nardiello on the right flank and he left central defender Steve Elliott flat-footed before crossing for co-striker Platt to tap home from close in for his first goal since joining the Shakers in January's transfer window.

Ashley Vincent replied less than two minutes later with his second goal in three starts since re-joining the Robins for a second spell in the summer.

Striker Jamie Cureton split the defence to pick out Vincent, but keeper Brian Jensen could not stop the winger's low shot from twelve yards.

Jensen kept Bury in the hunt with three excellent second half saves.

In the 52nd minute he blocked a swerving drive from midfielder Sam Deering and fourteen minutes later made a superb finger tip save from Harrison's five yard header.

The Bury stopper then beat away a point blank Harrison shot in the 91st minute.

Cheltenham manager Mark Yates admitted:

"Confidence has been one of the things that has been missing a little bit throughout the season. Winning games gives you confidence. Hopefully we can build on that for next week."

"I thought we got what we deserved. The reason we won was down to the way we responded after going a goal behind. To score so quickly showed me all I needed to know about the character of the lads."

Shakers boss David Flitcroft said:

"We have to make sure we are more clinical because we should have left this building with at least a draw. We should have left with a draw, but we're not going to live in the past."