Oxford United 0 Shrewsbury Town 2

Mark Ellis celebrated fatherhood in style by sending the Shrews to the top of the table.

Defender Ellis added Shrewsbury's second by nodding in a left wing corner from skipper Liam Lawrence at the far post for his first league goal of the campaign in the eighteenth minute.

Manager Micky Mellon then revealed:

"He had a baby daughter just before Christmas so it's a profitable time for him at the moment. You'll have to ask his missus, but he must be doing something right.

"We came out of the traps quickly and I'm really pleased with the lads. We're delighted to be top, but we won't get carried away."

Jim Collins had opened the scoring five minutes earlier.

Scott Vernon picked out co-striker Collins with a low left wing cross and the former Swindon hit man side-footed home his eleventh strike of the season from six yards as keeper Ryan Clarke was left exposed by his defence.

Ordinary Oxford were always second best and stopper Jayson Leutwiler shut them out on the few occasions they ventured forward.

One minute after Ellis's goal Leutwiler did well to get down to a low fourteen yard shot from striker Danny Hylton and five minutes later he pushed a thirty yard free kick from Michael Collins past his post.

Collins nearly sealed a first half brace in the 40th minute, but dragged his low shot just wide of Clarke's far post from the left side of the box.

Oxford then ran out of ideas as Shrewsbury replaced Sunday's opponents Wycombe as league leaders.

Central defender Nathaniel Knight-Percival came close to adding a third when he rattled the bar with an eight yard header from another Lawrence corner eight minutes after the break.

And in the 69th minute striker Bobby Grant curled a twenty yard effort inches over the bar.

Us boss Michael Appleton heard his team jeered off at half time and on the final whistle but said:

"Sometimes you just have to give credit to the opposition and today they were the better team. You can't be too critical when you come up against a team as strong as theirs. They are top of the table for a reason.

"We also lost both our full backs to injury and you can't account for something like that. It was a learning experience and the lads are intelligent enough to use it going forward."

Cheltenham Town 1 Portsmouth 1

Nigel Atangana's greatest moment in football was tinged by personal sadness.

French midfielder Atangana, 25, netted his first professional goal for Pompey's 56th minute equaliser, but then revealed his distress at learning of the tragic death of close pal Aurelia Taton, also 25. He said:

"I lost a very good friend last week. She died in a car crash on Sunday night. She was a school friend of mine and would always call me after games to ask me whether I had played or scored.

"I scored in a reserve game on Tuesday and again today and so they are for her, she was a beautiful person.

"I'm a Christian and I prayed to God that I would score in her memory and so when I scored, that was the main reason I was happy."

Atangana is relieved that Aurelia's faith in him is finally paying off. He revealed:

"I signed for Havant at the end of October last year and it was a very good move as I scored goals. I had to take my chance, I think it was my last chance. 

"I tried to make it in France and Spain, so when a big club like Portsmouth signed me it was very exciting. It's a very big club and I know that if they hadn't had problems, they wouldn't have been in this division and I wouldn't have got this chance. I really want to repay them."

Boss Andy Awford was pleased with the point, but needed confirmation from the Pompey faithful and explained:

"I didn't realise it had gone in unto our supporters behind the goal started jumping up and down."  

Omari Sterling-James, 21, also scored his first senior goal to give the Robins a 42nd minute lead and had the chance of a brace moments before Atangana's leveller, but the striker said:

"I've been waiting for my first professional goal and I'm happy I've scored it, but I'm a bit disappointed because I thought we should've won the game. If I'd scored another then they wouldn't have, so it's about fine margins."

Cheltenham manager Paul Buckle watched his side draw their third league game on the bounce and stop the rot that cost predecessor Mark Yates his job and said:

"What we're seeing is a more resilient Cheltenham, but I'm not used to drawing this much as I always set out to win."

Walsall 3 Barnsley 1

Jordan Cook insists that Walsall's promotion push is still on track.

Winger Cook, 24, scored a brace including a spectacular equalising volley after central defender Lewin Nyatanga had given the Tykes a first half lead. He then revealed:

"We were saying as a group that we wanted to be in or around the play-offs by Christmas and we're not far off being there.

"The start of the season was't good enough, but we knew we were and said that we wanted to do something extraordinary. 

"We're climbing the table steadily. Another couple of wins and we'll be flying. You can see the team clicking. There's great promise for a tremendous season, but we're not getting ahead of ourselves.

"With some of the things you see the lads doing in training, we could be playing in a higher league easily."

Cook set up Tom Bradshaw for the Saddlers second before the break and then added the third himself at the death.

Striker Bradshaw, 22, was delighted to hit double figures for the season and said:

"It's my job to score the goals, but a lot of them have been down to the team. I'm going to miss chances, it's when your not getting the chances, that's a worry. 

"I'm happy with my conversion rate this season and it's the first time I've scored ten. To get there by Christmas and be four points off the play-offs is great."

Walsall boss Dean Smith

"This result will give the lads a big boost. There were some pleasing performances out there and it was nice to see Jordan Cook score a couple and get an assist." 

Barnsley manager Danny Wilson said:   

"They scored a 'worldy' for the equaliser. The second goal was down to ourselves - a mixup. The third goal makes it seem there was quite a distance between the two teams and it was far from that."

Cheltenham Town 0 Dover Athletic 1

Connor Essam's late strike rocked the Robins as Conference side Dover caused a major Cup upset.

Former Gillingham defender Essam, 22, lashed in a twelve yard strike after League One outfit Cheltenham failed to clear an 83rd minute corner.

Midfielder Nick Deverdics lifted the ball back into the box, central defender Richard Orlu nodded it on for Essam to pounce and bury his fourth goal of the campaign before saying:

"It's got to be the highlight of my career.

"I was at Crawley playing for John Gregory and he let me move to Dover back in September so I could rebuild my career. The last thing he said was to go and prove him wrong for letting me go. Hopefully I've started doing that today."

Delighted Athletic boss Chris Kinnear said:

"The difference was that they focussed on the money while we focussed on the glory.

"Don't get me wrong, money's important and our Chairman has told me we can afford two extra lights for training in the evening. That means we'll be able to train on half the pitch rather than quarter of it.

"It was a magnificent win though. We didn't play well, but we stayed in the game and willed a win. The players have given one hundred percent for the club and the supporters have a team that'll give them value for money. We're looking forward as a club and maybe this is the start."

Cheltenham keeper Trevor Carson needed to shut out Athletic twice in two first half minutes to spare his side's blushes as the visitors started brightly.

In the sixteenth minute Deverdics lobbed the ball from the left side of the box and forced Carson to back-peddle and tip the ball over the bar.

Stefan Payne then set co-striker Tom Murphy away on the right and the hospital admin worker cut into the area before drilling in a low shot that Carson did well to beat away at his near post.

Those close calls seemed to wake the Cheltenham up.

Six minutes later full back Craig Braham-Barrett raced down the left flank and shrugged off the attention of Essam before running along the byline to make stopper Andrew Rafferty beat his angled shot away.

Cheltenham did manage to get the ball in the net before the break, but striker Terry Gornell's far post header was chalked off as the ball was ruled to be out of play before winger Kane Ferdinand sent over the cross.

Tom Bonner blew a great chance to put Dover ahead ten minutes into the second half when the ball dropped to him after a goal mouth scramble, but the central defender managed to clear the bar with his nine yard shot.

And Payne should have done better when he received the ball on the left side of the box in the 64th minute, but lamely chipped the ball into Carson's arms.

Murphy then tried to break the deadlock less than four minutes later with a twenty yard strike that stung Carson's hands as both teams pressed to avoid a replay.

Winger Tyrone Sterling then gave Cheltenham a warning of what was to come when he hit the outside of the post with a fourteen drive from the left less than a minute before Essam's winner.

Cheltenham manager Paul Buckle was left stunned after only his second game in charge following Mark Yates dismissal two weeks ago. He said:

"I'm bitterly disappointed for the supporters and the board. It was a golden opportunity to make it into the third round. We've got to take it on the chin.

"I'd like to congratulate Dover first and foremost. I've had enough good Cup runs to know how they're feeling."

Oxford United 2 Tranmere Rovers 2

Jason Koumas was hoping to star on the telly, but would settle for a great repeat.

Former West Brom and Cardiff winger Koumas, 35, came off the bench in the second half to secure a replay for Tranmere before revealing:

"As soon as I scored, I thought I can't wait to see that one on Match of the Day. The last time a goal of mine featured was about four and half years ago when I scored at Villa Park for Wigan."

But the ex-Wales international also fancies a re-run one of Tranmere's greatest Cup adventures. He grinned:

"I wouldn't mind having a run like we had during my first spell with the club. In 2001 we beat Everton, but lost to Liverpool in the quarter finals."

Koumas also revealed he has no intention of retiring any time soon. He said:

"I love playing and training - I really love it. I'm taking my coaching badges and trying to help bring on the younger lads at the club, but I still have a lot to offer on the pitch."

Tranmere manager Micky Adams was delighted for Koumas and said:

"He's a great kid - well he's a kid to someone like me! 

"I had a little fancy for him that as the game opened up it was right for him to make a stamp on the game and so it proved."

Striker Cole Stockton opened the scoring for Tranmere in the first half before loanee hit man Tyrone Barnett bagged a brace to put Oxford ahead after the break.

Barnett, 29, then said:

"My loan deal is up after the next game against Bury, but I'll be keeping my fingers crossed that Oxford win the replay and get a good draw against a top club in the next round. The players, staff and fans here deserve it. It's a great place."

And Oxford boss Michael Appleton said:

"We've got Tyrone Barnett for just one more game before he goes back to Peterborough and he's showing everyone now what he can do.

"I just hope some other club doesn't now reap the benefit of a fit and strong Tyrone Barnett because he's got there through being with us."

Cheltenham Town 1 Oxford United 1

Tyrone Barnett listened to expert advice from keeper Ryan Clarke to earn Oxford a deserved point.

Striker Barnett, 29, is on loan from Peterborough until January and finally beat excellent stopper Trevor Carson with his third goal of the season before revealing: 

"He had a brilliant game and had stopped me from a similar position early on. As we came out for the second half Ryan whispered to me that he'd noticed their keeper had a habit of spreading himself when he rushed out.

"It was good advice and so I put the ball between his legs. I don't think he'll get an assist though."

And honest hit man Barnett admitted:

"I probably have half the number of goals I expected to get by this stage off the season, but hopefully I'll kick on from here."

Cheltenham opened the scoring in Paul Buckle's first game after succeeding Mark Yates who was sacked last Monday and defender Jack Deaman claimed the former Torquay manager had an immediate impact.

Deaman, 21, teed up Byron Harrison for his seventh goal of the season and said:

"It was a pretty straightforward goal. Byron did really well to put it away, but the build up was simple and the boss had told us to keep it that way. Sometimes you can over-complicate things, but if you keep it simple it's likely to get you results."

Buckle was delighted with his new team and said:

"I’d like the boys a bit fitter. We had a few go down with cramp, but that shows me they gave everything. In January we need to add and help this squad, but they’ve been brilliant."

Oxford chief Michael Appleton said:

"It should've been six points with the number of chances we had! I'm disappointed in the result, but everything else I'm delighted with."

Bristol City 0 Preston North End 1

Callum Robinson has two targets: Silverware for Preston and a hand in Kevin Davies's 150th career goal.

Villa rookie Robinson, 19, scored his fifth goal in seven starts to keep the Lilywhites promotion push on track and condemn City to only their second reverse this season before revealing:

"I'm only a young player learning my trade and when you have class acts like Kevin around it makes it easier. He's a gentleman too."

Former Bolton and England striker Davies fluffed his lines when Robinson set him up in the second half, but Robinson said:

"It'll come, I have no doubts. When it does I want to be there to play my part. He had a chance of it last week In Cup against Havant, but he let me take a penalty for my hat trick instead. That says a lot about him."

Robinson extended a one month loan deal at the beginning of the campaign until January and said:

"If Villa don't need me it makes sense for me to stay at Preston and help them try and get promoted. That would be brilliant for someone of my age. I'm already full of confidence and I've learned so much playing at this level.

"Obviously I want to play at the highest level possible, but I'm loving every minute at the moment."

Delighted North End boss Simon Grayson joked:

"It'll be nice if we can go up and Bristol can follow us. They have a great side. It was a case of two good teams going head to head."

Manager Steve Cotterill shrugged off City's second successive defeat and said:

"All in all, I'm very proud of these players. I'll take the second half performance and the first fifteen from the first half. We'll get these points back by the end of the season."

Walsall 0 Peterborough United 0

Jordan Cook believes Walsall are ready to dish out a spanking.

Cook, 24, tormented the Posh defence as the Saddlers dominated without finding the net, but the tricky winger said:

"We believe we can beat anyone.

"We need to put all the good things we're doing in training into games. We're not far off and we'll spank someone soon."

Cook found himself dumped by home town club Sunderland and Charlton before joining Walsall in the summer and revealed:

"I love it here, it's brilliant. It's a good team and we play good football and that's the reason I came here. We get the ball down and move it around on an excellent surface.

"The belief is there and nine times out of ten we'll pick up a point or a win."

Peterborough keeper Ben Alnwick, 27, made sure of a first point in four games by shutting out striker Romaine Sawyers late on and then said:

"We didn't come for a draw, but the clean sheet is something to build on. There's not much between many of the teams in this division and so we have every chance of pushing on from here."

Walsall manager Dean Smith will extend the loan deal for influential Leicester midfielder Michael Cain today (Monday). He revealed:

"We've had a conversation, we've agreed to it and so we're just waiting for the paperwork to be done. He's got better and better since he's been here and to be honest I think our performances have got better and better as he's got better and better."

Peterborough manager Darren Ferguson is actively looking to bolster his squad and said:

"We've made enquiries. I've only got sixteen outfield players fit. There are areas we need to look at. It's not a slight on my players, it's a case of numbers."

Oxford United 1 Wycombe Wanderers 2

Paul Hayes has revealed that Wycombe's table topping battlers were inspired by a trip to the Somme.

Skipper Hayes levelled in the second half before midfielder Peter Murphy nodded the winner to take the Chairboys to the top of League Two.

And Hayes, 31, revealed he and his teammates were taken to the  Footballers’ Battalion Memorial at Longueval by manager Gareth Ainsworth ahead of Remembrance Sunday next weekend.

He explained:

"The gaffer had been there a few years ago. We were there to pay our respects for two days and learn. We definitely did. It was a very humbling experience.

"I must admit I didn't know too much about the sacrifices that were made and neither did many of the others, but we were so moved that when we came back, we started researching the war and the footballers who took part. You wonder whether we would have the bravery these days to do what they did."

Wycombe's squad also laid a poppy tribute at the Thiepval Memorial to former player James McDermott who lost his life at the Battle of the Somme, but whose body was one of over 72,000 never recovered.

And Hayes praised Chairman Andrew Howard for backing Ainsworth. Hayes said:

"Everyone knows how tight finances are at the club at the moment. We only have nineteen players and we'd have to draft in the kit man, tea lady and a couple of others if we wanted to play eleven-side and work on our shape in training, but he paid for our trip out of his own pocket, so full credit to him."

Ainsworth explained:

"I was asked to represent the players at the Footballers' Memorial four years ago and thought that one day I'd like to take my young lad over so he could understand what happened. Then, a few weeks ago, I thought 'hang on, I'm responsible for some other young lads', so we arranged the visit.

“It helped give the players a sense of perspective and a real insight into the heroism of footballers just like themselves who fought and died for their country. It was part of our development for the team and it was great to go over there at a time when they have been performing so well.

“The players really bought into the whole experience and I was a proud man to see the respect, interest and enthusiasm they showed throughout the whole trip.”

Oxford striker Danny Hylton opened the scoring from the spot in the first half, but then shot himself in the foot to gift Wycombe the win by sending an injury time penalty over the bar.

Boss Michael Appleton said:

"When you're top of the league, that's what happens and when you're bottom of the league, that's what happens. Once they got the goal to equalise they were on the front foot."

Walsall 1 Chesterfield 0

Tom Bradshaw is turning his Walsall adventure into a real family affair.

Striker Bradshaw, 22, joined the Saddlers from Shrewsbury in the summer and scored his sixth of the season to pull them out of the drop zone after missing four games through injury. He then revealed:

"In the corner where I celebrated I had about twelve family members. I managed to get six in free and had to scrimp together for the rest.

"We're a very close family so that's not an uncommon thing. My Dad and three of my uncles once drove eighteen hours to watch me play in an Under-19 game for Wales in Liechtenstein. I think they turned it into a bit of a road trip. It helps when you're having bad days and its doubly as good when you have good ones."

Bradshaw was also on standby to earn his first senior Wales cap in the recent Euro qualifiers against Cyprus and Bosnia before straining his hamstring, but said:

"First and foremost I just want to be scoring goals for Walsall. In football you can't plan too far ahead and have to live in the here and now.

"Every footballer has their aspirations though and playing for Wales is definitely one of mine. I think this is the first time in years where the lads have a realistic chance of qualifying. When you look at the team with the likes of Aaron Ramsey, Gareth Bale, big household names, it's an exciting time. I wouldn't be surprised if my uncles have got half an eye on that one - whether I'm involved or not."

Walsall boss Dean Smith was delighted with Bradshaw and said:

"Tom kept the two centre-backs busy. They never had two minutes peace."

Chesterfield have only picked up one point in four games and manager Paul Cook groaned:

"What you must do at times like this is stay strong."

Swindon Town 2 Rochdale 3

Rochdale boss Keith Hill's was delighted after former Paris Saint Germain youth prospect Bastien Hery came off the bench to win the points at the death and he revealed:

"We were having a little joke on the bench and asking each other whether it was the night for a Parisian and then Bastien came on and showed us it was.

"I'm very happy. We played against the best footballing side in League One. They're incredible. We matched them. We took them on, we really took them on. They're a ball playing side and we counter-attacked superbly.

"It's a magnificent achievement. Tremendous. Every goal was a very good goal."

But Hill's euphoria was tempered by a bad knee injury to winger Peter Vincenti. He said:

"It's his left one. We don't know one hundred percent at the moment, but I think it's a serious one."

Swindon manager Mark Cooper was left seething and said:

"If you score two at home, you should win.

"It looked as though we were going to go on and win it and then our centre back loses his man and they score another goal.

"We did have some really good performances, but defensively we weren't good enough."

Walsall 0 Crewe Alexandra 1

Adam Dugdale's late strike eased the pressure on boss Steve Davies to earn Crewe a rare win.

Alex have only won three games this season, but Davies's players stood up to be counted in a dire game.

Dugdale netted his first of the campaign in the 84th minute.

Fellow central defender George Ray nodded down a corner from substitute Billy Waters and Dugdale was first to react to belt the ball in from a couple of yards.

Relieved boss Davies joked:

"That's back-to-back wins - it's unknown!

"We're not going to go from one performance to the next in giant leaps, it'll be little strides. It wasn't a great spectacle, but we were slightly better and just nicked it."

Walsall striker Jordan Cook should have put his team ahead in the 69th minute minutes, but nodded a cross from Andy Forde straight at keeper Ben Garrett with the goal begging.

Garrett then played a big part in the win six minutes later when he back-peddled furiously to tip over a cheeky lob from Cook.

Former Saddler Febian Brandy came closest to breaking the deadlock before the break.

In the 24th minute Brandy picked up a pass from skipper Matt Tootle on the right side of the box and his fierce shot was fumbled by keeper Richard O'Donnell who recovered to fall on the ball before it trickled into the net.

And Walsall's best effort of the half fell to left back Andy Taylor, but his 25 yard screamer took a deflection off team mate Cook and flew inches wide.

Disappointed Saddlers manager Dean Smith saw his team slip into the drop zone and said:

"We didn't really show a lot of desire to get the ball into the back of the net. We lacked a little bit of nous."

Walsall 1 Bristol City 1

Romaine Sawyers stunned league leaders City with a late equaliser, but their unbeaten start to the season continued.

Striker Sawyers played a one-two on the edge of the box with winger Andy Forde before curling a side-foot stunner into the top corner for his second goal of the campaign before flying to Haiti to for a St. Kitts and Nevis Caribbean Cup game.

And Bristol City boss Steve Cotterill praised Sawyers goal. He said:

"You have to take your hat off at times. That was a wonderful finished. All in all, it was a fair result. We're still unbeaten and I've told the players to be proud of that.

Joe Bryan had the Robins rocking though with his first league goal of the season in the eleventh minute.

Central defender Luke Ayling picked Bryan out with a cross field pass and the winger cut into the box from the left flank before drilling a low fourteen yard shot past helpless keeper Richard O'Donnell.

Walsall started the game brightly and defender Andy Butler hooked a volley into the arms of keeper Frank Fielding in the first minute.

Five minutes after Bryan's opener, central defender Paul Downing nearly gifted City a second.

Downing dithered on the edge of his box and striker Aaron Wilbraham nicked the ball off his toes, but fired a low shot straight at O'Donnell.

But Fielding needed to be at his best in the 25th minute to touch a twenty yard curling shot from Forde just over the bar.

Saddlers manager Dean Smith was delighted with his side, but said:

"I thought we deserved more if I'm honest. We were disappointed with their goal, but think we have a goal of the season contender and I thought we had them on the back foot in the second half."

Bristol City 3 Chesterfield 2

Wes Burns scored a last gasp winner to stun the Spireites as leaders City kept their super start going.

First half substitute Burns lashed home his first of the campaign from ten yards after meeting skipper Wade Elliott's 93rd minute right wing cross to make it eight wins from twelve games.

City are now five points clear at the top and delighted boss Steve Cotterill said:

"They had some good possession and played some good football, take nothing away from them.

"I was delighted that Wes Burns got the winner because he's made the mistake for their second when he hasn't gone with the runner and they've played a one-two around him, but that's what you'll get from young players. Two of our young players have given the ball away in the final third, but that's what happens with young players, bless 'em. Hopefully they'll be better for their experiences.

"I've been dying to get to 3-4-3 at the right time and today I thought right, let's have a go at it. We got to it, albeit for six minutes, and thankfully that got us the winner.

"It's always a test of character and team spirit when you go goals up and they peg you back.

"Late in the game we got enough bodies in the box looking for the winner which is pleasing."

Spireites skipper Ian Evatt inadvertently opened the scoring for City in the ninth minute.

Defender Tendayi Darikwa lost the ball on the edge of his own box and hapless central defender Evatt turned a low cross from left winger Joe Bryan into his own net from two yards out at the near post.

Bryan then turned villain for Chesterfield's 25th minute leveller when he also gave the ball away just before Eoin Doyle was bundled over by full back Derek Williams in the box.

Striker Doyle then picked himself up to  from the spot.

Left back Williams then made amends to put City ahead again less than one minute after the break.

Winger Luke Freeman floated over a corner from the right right wing corner to the back post and Williams nodded His first of the season back into the far corner.

But Doyle kept his amazing hot streak going when he tapped in his FIFTEENTH of the season from two yards in the 59th minute after co-striker Sam Clucas mishit Darikwa's teasing Low cross.

Chesterfield manager Paul Cook remained upbeat and said:

"I thought it was a great game. Unfortunately we couldn't see it out, but I thought my players deserved some credit.

"We saw two teams wanting to win a football match and that'll always make an entertaining game.

"You've got to give credit to Bristol City. They're on a fantastic run and they've got a bright young manager. It's a club going in the right direction and they reason they score goals is because they've got good players.

"I think that when you go away from home you play without fear. I'm very proud of my players this week like I always am."

Walsall 3 Doncaster Rovers 0

CJames Baxendale sparked a rout to get revenge on dire Donny.

Winger Baxendale was dumped by home town club Rovers two years ago after making only two substitute appearances, but found the net for the first time in one year at the end of the first period.

Winger Andy Forde took a short free kick to Romaine Sawyers on the left of the box and the St. Kitts and Nevis striker cut the ball back for Baxendale to send a rocket of a shot into the far corner.

Walsall boss Dean Smith was delighted with Baxendale and said:

"Bax did what we know he can do and we've been waiting for him to do for a while. You could see his relief after scoring."

"We controlled the game. It was a very good performance."

Striker Tom Bradshaw doubled the lead in the 57th minute.

Sawyers sent a low cross over from the left flank and Bradshaw slid in to prod home his fifth goal since moving from Shrewsbury in the summer.

Forde opened his Walsall account in the 64th minute with a scorcher.

Bradshaw was bundled over by midfielder Paul Keegan on the edge of the box and Forde fired in the free kick off the upright.

Neither side had posed a real threat in the first half Until Baxendale's strike.

Rovers midfielder Harry Forrester fired a long range effort from the left wide of the far post in the sixteenth minute and central defender Paul Downing nodded a free kick from winger Andy Forde just wide in the 28th minute.

Doncaster manager Paul Dickov fumed:

"I'd like to apologise to our fans, they didn't deserve that. it's not the first time it's happened this season. Next week we'll be working hard and taking a long look at ourselves."

Swindon Town 5 Sheffield United 2

Michael Smith scored a brace to blunt the Blades and bring their unbeaten run to a shuddering halt

Striker Smith scored his first in the thirteenth minute.

Midfielder Louis Thompson split the Blades defence to pick out Smith on the right side of the box and he drilled in a low shot from fourteen yards.

Smith then added his second from the spot in the 55th minute after midfielder Massimo Luongo was hacked down by defender Neill Collins.

Swindon manager Mark Cooper was delighted with Smithand said:

"I thought he was tremendous, but I thought they all were and we could've had more."

Jon Obika netted his fourth goal in three games in the 58th minute.

Iraq international midfielder Yaser Kasim fed winger Bradley Smith on the left and he picked out Obika who fired in a low shot from fourteen yards.

Striker Marc McNulty pulled United back into the game with his first league goal of the season in the 66th minute when he scooped a pass from winger Ben Davies over keeper Wes Foderingham from three yards.

And Davies gave the Blades real hope when he volleyed in his fourth of the campaign from a tight angle at the far post after Foderingham had flapped and missed substitute Ryan Flynn's left wing cross.

But Swindon substitute Andy Williams latched on to Thompson's 76th minute pass to roll in his fourth of the campaign in the 76th minute.

And with four minutes left Thompson opened his League account For the season with a belter from twenty yards after Kasim had found him in space in front of goal.

Sheffield boss Nigel Clough was seething after seeing his team's six match unbeaten run end. He said:

"They're a confident good footballing side, but we gave the ball away cheaply."

Cheltenham Town 0 Southend United 1

Conor Clifford was in the thick of it as he scored a stunner against gutsy ten-man Cheltenham

Substitute Clifford drilled in a low 22 yard shot through a crowded box for his second of the season in the 52nd minute.

But Clifford was the victim seven minutes before the break when midfielder Jason Taylor was shown a red card for lashing out at him as both players grappled on the deck.

Keeper Trevor Carson beat away a shot from Spurs loanee striker Shaquile Coulthirst and winger Kevan Hurst rattled the bar, but Southend could not add to Clifford's strike.

Mark Yates was furious with referee James Linington after he red-carded midfielder Jason Taylor for elbowing Southend substitute Conor Clifford.

Robins boss Yates fumed:

"The game got ruined by the official. Our supporters are the most mild-mannered in the world and the reaction they gave during the game and at the end said it all. I thought it was very harsh. It was a good game until then.

"We paid the price for giving the referee a chance to send one of our players off. It made it extra tough for us, but the effort and commitment is there."

Southend manager PhilBrown saw the incident differently and said:

"Conor's gone to ground and he's been elbowed on the ground. Conor's not a soft boy, but he stayed down.

"The referee was five yards away and so if he hadn't of given it he'd have bottled it. There were a lot of other decisions he didn't get right.

"When circumstances go for you - and they did tonight - you've got to grab them with both hands and we did."

Walsall 3 Preston North End 1

Romaine Sawyers has Kitts and made up with the Bescot faithful.

Striker Sawyers opened the scoring as Walsall won for the first time this season, but had been jeered by some fans before heading off to help St. Kitts and Nevis beat Dominica in the Caribbean Cup.

Sawyers, 22, even took to Twitter to apologise to fans, but said:

"I didn't play to the standard I'd set for myself. I was disappointed and said that, but now the tweets will be a lot more positive. 

"I can accept when they're not on my side when my performances were like they were, but today's reception when I came off made me feel good about myself."

And Birmingham-born Sawyers believes the visit to St. Kitts helped him relax. He said:

"It's a lot more laid back out there so it was good to refresh myself, but I put personal pressure on myself whether I'm playing for Walsall or St. Kitts."

Joe Garner equalised before the break, but Tom Bradshaw and Paul Downing headed Walsall to a second half victory.

Andy Butler returned to Walsall to make his loan debut - only three months after signing for Sheffield United and was felled by a 69th minute headbutt from Jordan Hugill who was red-carded.

But Butler refused to criticise United boss Nigel Clough for farming him out and said:

"There's been no falling out or anything and a friend sent me a text this week to let me know that Walsall haven't won since November 2010 without me playing, so that's not a bad stat!"

Manager Dean Smith took a friendly swipe at the doom mongers who had already tipped the Saddlers for the drop. He joked: 

"It's nice to get the win. It was a six-pointer in a relegation battle wasn't it?"

Walsall 3 Preston North End 1

Romaine Sawyers silenced the boo-boys as Walsall chalked up a first win against ten-man Preston.

Striker Sawyer had been getting grief from the Bescot faithful before spending the international break with St. Kitts and Nevis in the Caribbean, but scored his first goal since January in the seventh minute.

Mal Benning picked out fellow midfielder Adam Chambers on the left side of the box and he cut the ball back to Sawyers who found the back of the net with a deflected side-footed shot from fourteen yards.

Delighted Walsall boss Dean Smith said:

"It was a good result against a team who were unbeaten in the league until today and I was pleased to see Romaine get himself back on the score sheet."

Tom Bradshaw grabbed the Saddlers second four minutes after the break when he nodded in Antony Forde's right wing cross from eight yards to claim his fourth goal since a summer move from Shrewsbury.

And central defender Paul Downing sealed the win in the 76th minute when he nodded in his first goal of the season at the far post from a Forde corner.

Striker Joe Garner had pulled Preston back into the game in the 36th minute with his fourth goal in six starts when he drilled in a low shot from the edge of the box following a pass from substitute Jordan Hugill.

But Hugill gave referee Geoff Eltringham no option other than to dish out his FOURTH red card of the season in the 69th minute when he head-butted loanee defender Andy Butler who returned to the club last week despite a summer move to Sheffield United.

North End manager Simon Grayson fumed:

"Jordan's been foolish to react the way he did, but we were the masters of our own downfall."

Bristol City 2 Scunthorpe United 0

FGreg Cunningham took less than sixty seconds to seal City's unbeaten start to the season.

Substitute Cunningham started the move after coming off the bench in the 82nd minute and then latched on to a pass from midfielder Luke Freeman to drill in his first goal of the campaign from the left side of the box.

City are now second in the table behind Peterborough after winning four of their first six games, but manager Steve Cotterill warned:

"It's early days and nothing to get carried away about, but I'm very pleased with the win.

"I thought Greg's goal was fantastic, but Joe Bryan will tell you that he exhausted their full back before I took him off!"

Freeman also had a hand in City's 52nd minute opener when floated a corner to the far post and 6' 6" central defender Aden Flint nodded in his first goal of the season from two yards.

Posh loanee stopper Bobby Olejnik kept Scunny in the game with an excellent save in the 69th minute.

Striker Kieran Agard had a shot blocked by central defender Niall Canavan on the right side of the box, but curled the rebound towards the far corner only to see Olejnik touch it behind at full stretch.

Scunthorpe came close to scoring twice in two minutes.

In the 22nd minute Gary McSheffrey rattled the upright with a shot from the left side of the area and then co-striker Paddy Madden raced onto a defence splitting pass from midfielder Neal Bishop, but Frank Fielding saved his twenty yard shot.

Iron boss Russ Wilcox groaned:

"It's always disappointing when you lose a football match, but we showed what we're about and created three or four golden opportunities. We did well for an hour, but have to do better in both boxes."