Blackburn Rovers 0 Scunthorpe United 1

Neal Bishop showed his mettle to nab his first Iron goal as Rovers rotten run in the cup continued.

Midfielder Bishop proved himself a steal after a free summer switch from Blackpool and scored the 34th minute winner in his second game.

Former Coventry winger Gary McSheffrey's corner was met by Bishop who outjumped the static Championship defence to bury a near post header.

It is the third successive season Rovers have been embarrassed by League One opposition following defeats by MK Dons and then Carlisle last term.

But Scunthorpe fully deserved the lead and nearly added a second five minutes later.

Another McSheffrey corner caused panic in the box and midfielder Chris Taylor put the ball narrowly over his own bar from a tight angle.

Rovers boss Gary Bowyer must have regretted resting TEN of the players who started in the season's opener last Friday.

After only one minute David Dunn fluffed his lines from six yards and fired wide after being teed up by co-striker Josh King.

And on the half hour debutant youth product Jack O'Connell was lucky not to give away a penalty when he appeared to drag down Bishop.

Ben Marshall had come closest to scoring for Rovers in the 51st minute, but keeper Sam Slocombe did brilliantly to palm the ball behind after the winger's left wing curling free kick evaded everyone else in the box. 

Striker Rudy Gestede managed to find the net in the 77th minute, but winger Luke Varney was ruled to have fouled Slocombe.  

And with four minutes to go Varney blew a great chance to keep the game alive when he sent a diving header straight into Slocombe's arms from ten yards.

Seething Bowyer watched his team lose for the first time since March said:

"From my point of view that was unacceptable. In my time here that's the worst we've been in that first 45 minutes, but credit to Scunthorpe.

"It wasn't good enough and I won't hide from that. We had strong words at half time.

As a manager you get players knocking on your door and asking for an opportunity. Well some took it tonight and some didn't. It highlights the need to bring more bodies in."

Scunthorpe manager Russ Wilcox gushed:

"In the last twenty minutes they were throwing everything into the box and we defended brilliantly. I was delighted with that final period of the game.

"Blackburn had quality players out there with real Championship experience, but we've got real quality players in our group.

"When we got the ball we frustrated Blackburn and that's the best form of defence."

Swindon Town 3 Scunthorpe United 1

Massimo Luongo has called on the Swindon faithful to give their full support to Michael Smith.

Midfielder Luongo, 21, was a non-playing member of Australia's World Cup squad in Brazil and he opened the scoring in the third minute before striker Smith sealed the win with a first half brace. 

Smith,22, came in for criticism from sections of the County Ground last season despite scoring eight goals following a January move from Charlton, but Luongo said:

"If anything he's the most important player in our team. That's why I think everyone should back him. He does the job and does what every good striker should do - he scores goals. His hold up play was good, but everyone loses the ball sometimes - me in particular."

Boss Mark Cooper also backed Smith and revealed:

"He had a go at me for bringing him off as he was on his hat-trick, but I'm sure he'll get plenty more chances for that at this club. No matter what anyone says about him, and he does get his fair share of stick, he scores goals and that's another two for him."

Striker Paddy Madden pulled a goal back for newly promoted Iron before Smith's second, but defender Marcus Williams was shown a red card for punching Swindon skipper Nathan Thompson.

Scunthorpe Manager Russ Wilcox said:

"Marcus's sending off was down to frustration. It cost us a little today, but it's going to cost us more in the weeks to come."

And midfielder Neal Bishop, 33, called on his new team to hold their nerve. The free summer signing from Blackpool said:

"You have to earn the right to play in this division. We worked hard in pre-season to prepare for more than 46 games not just the first one, but that's the standard we have to expect week in, week out."

Swindon Town 3 Scunthorpe United 1

Michael Smith's brace of tap-ins got the Robins off to a flier against ten-man Iron.

But boss Mark Cooper refused to get carried away and said:

"We could've had five or six in the second half, but we know we still have some work to do defensively."

Hit man Smith scored his first in the twelfth minute.

Midfielder Louis Thompson crossed from the left and Smith darted past a static defence to side-foot home from four yards.

Smith grabbed his second just before the break.

Strike partner Ben Gladwin's low shot from the right side of the box came back off the foot of the post and Smith pounced to knock the ball in from two yards.

Aussie midfielder Massimo Luongo had opened the scoring for Swindon in the third minute.

Gladwin fed Nathan Byrne on the right flank and the wing-back picked Luongo who slotted in from six yards at the near post.

But Republic of Ireland striker Paddy Madden pulled a goal back for newly promoted Scunthorpe in the 20th minute when he raced on to a header from substitute Deon Burton to drill a low shot past helpless keeper Wes Foderingham.

And Scunny's first-day blues turned red in the 80th minute when full back Marcus Williams was sent off after decking Swindon skipper Nathan Thompson.

Foderingham pulled off two brilliant point-blank saves from winger Jennison Myrie-Williams and Madden to make sure of the win.

And Madden was given the bum's rush when he tried to notch his own brace, but saw his ten yard shot fly off the backside of Southampton loanee defender Jordan Turnbull before going behind.

Scunthorpe boss Russ Wilcox said:

"We were striving for ten months to be here, so while we're disappointed, we're not going to be negative."

Cheltenham Town 2 Dagenham & Redbridge 3

Ade Azeez sealed a final day win for Daggers and an end-of-season bonus for his teammates.

Charlton loanee striker Azeez knocked in the rebound for his third of the season in the 67th minute after debutant keeper Connor Roberts had done well to push defender Gavin Hoyte's effort from the edge of the area on to the post.

The goal ensured Dagenham finished the season in ninth place and Azeez then revealed:

"A few of the boys came to thank me at the end because they get a bonus for finishing in the top twelve. I don't think I qualify, but they told me they'll spend theirs on a holiday."

And he joked:

"The gaffer said he thinks they'll get about £5.80 each so it might just get them a taxi to the airport." 

Azeez is now hoping to find a new team, but admitted:

"At this time of year there are a lot of very good players out there looking for clubs, but I felt I had to leave Charlton to play regularly against real men rather than Under-21s."

Cheltenham skipper Steve Elliott's headed opener from rookie Joe Hank's free kick was cancelled out by fellow defender Sido Jombati who curled a back pass in from 25 yards to stun Roberts.

Full back Jombati was under no pressure when he overhit a 21st minute right flank back pass to Roberts, but only succeeded in curling past the Wales Under-21 stopper.

Jombati is one of several Cheltenham players who will learn this week if they are to be offered new deals, but boss Mark Yates said:

"The own goal sums us up this season. You'll have to ask Sido what he was trying to do. It was one of the worst I've seen.

"I haven't seen anything like it. We play some good stuff and then throw away the lead. I felt really sorry for Connor. It was a terrible ball.",

Midfielder Richards then restored Cheltenham's lead with his eighth goal of the season in the 24th minute when his low shot from just inside the box deflected off Hoyte and looped over keeper Jordan Seabright.

But central defender Scott Doe opened his Daggers account for the season one minute before the break when he tapped in midfielder Billy Bingham's left wing free kick at the far post.

Delighted Daggers manager Wayne Burnett said: 

"The players never cease to amaze me and have surpassed all my expectations. At one point we had three youth-team players on the pitch and that is fantastic because they are the foundations to this football club.

"We were odds on to go down at the start of the season and we'll probably be odds on to go down next season, but we finished above Portsmouth. Wow! The remit was to stay up and we did that."

Oxford United 1 Accrington Stanley 2

James Gray taught his dad's Oxford mates a lesson, but it's a former teacher who drives him on.

Gray, 21, set up co-striker Kayode Odejayi for the first half opener before adding the 55th minute winner to make sure Accrington beat the threat of dropping out of the league before revealing:

"I set out every day to prove people wrong. In particular my old PE teacher who told me I'd never make it as a professional when I was thirteen."

Gray's dad, Phil, played for Oxford and Sunderland and the impressive Northern Ireland under-21 hit man said:

"He's been giving me a bit of friendly stick as I hadn't scored since December, but he'll be pleased I scored against one of his former teams especially as he has a few friends like Andy Melville on the coaching staff."

Rotherham loanee Odejayi, 32, admitted he has been impressed with rookie manager James Beattie and said:

"He's been positive since I walked through the door back in September. He's a top man. He was a player in the dressing room last year and so has had to make that transition, but he's done it and should go on to have a great career."

Accrington took thirteen league games to record their fist win, but Beattie was delighted to secure the club's league status and said:

"The recovery is now 100 per cent complete. All season we believed.

"We embarked on a journey when I walked through the door and in my fledgling managerial career it has to be a highlight to keep the club in the football league for another year."

Ryan Williams pulled a goal back for Oxford, but manager Gary Waddock was furious that his team had blown a play-off place having topped the table in December. He blasted:

"There was a lack of hunger and desire and we don't want a football team like that. That's not a Gary Waddock team. Come the start of next season, I'll be judged on the team I put together."

"We have a losing culture here and we have to change that. What I saw was just not acceptable. I know what needs to be done, and there will be a lot of work in the summer."

Gray had another angled shot well saved by keeper Ryan Clarke for the opener in the eighteenth minute, but strike partner Odejayi was first to react to bury the rebound for his seventh of the campaign from eight yards.

Clarke shut out Accrington twice in the first fourteen minutes with two smart saves.

Central defender drilled a low shot through a crowded box from ten yards in the third minute, but Clarke pushed it past his upright and the keeper then got down to save Gray's downward header from close in.

Bristol Rovers 1 Rochdale 2

Matty Lund sent Dale to the top of the table - and edged Rovers closer to the trap door.

Midfielder Lund tapped in his ninth goal of the season from one yard after left back Michael Rose's low cross somehow made its way to the far post through a crowded box.

Delighted Rochdale chief Keith Hill said:

"After the last two games when we've lost both 3-0, you think you're out of the title race, but we're not."

Substitute Joe Bunney had levelled in the 46th minute after racing on to a pass from striker George Donnelly to rifle in from a tight angle.

Midfielder Kaid Mohamed gave relegation threatened Rovers false hope when his toe-poked opener hit the post from ten yards before trickling across the line despite Rochdale protests.

Disappointed Rovers manager Darrell Clarke said:

"They're all crunch games now. We've got to keep going, keep fighting."

Cheltenham Town 1 Fleetwood Town 2

Josh Morris found the net for the first time to keep the Cod Army's promotion hopes alive.

Blackburn loanee midfielder Morris, 22, proved he is a great catch when ran on to a slick pass from striker David Ball to smash in his first senior goal from the left side of the box in the 64th minute.

Delighted Fleetwood manager Graham Alexander saw his team move to within three points of an automatic promotion place and seal a play-off place, but admitted:

"We put ourselves on the back foot in the first half and had to dig deep to get the three points. We didn't rant and rave at half time, just talked to the players calmly and I thought the response was great. They deserved the win."

Veteran striker Jamie Cureton, 38, brought the game to life in the 32nd minute with his ninth goal of the season.

Midfielder Harry Williams saw keeper Chris Maxwell do well to get down and save his low strike from eight yards, but Cureton pounced to fire in the rebound from the left side of the six yard box.

Midfielder Antoni Sarcevic pulled Fleetwood back into the game from the spot in the 55th minute.

Robins midfielder Matt Richards hauled down Iain Hume as the Preston loan striker darted into the right side of the box and Sarcevic blasted in his fourteenth of the campaign.

Maxwell played a big part in the win when he pulled off two great second half finger tip saves.

Defenders Sido Jombati and Steve Elliott both had Maxwell dive at full stretch to keep his team ahead as Cheltenham pressed for an equaliser.

Furious Cheltenham boss Mark Yates groaned:

"We seem to find ways to lose games. Words fail me. We've done what we've done well all season and thrown away the lead."

Bristol Rovers 1 Torquay United 2

Shaquile Coulthirst has put his Premier League ambitions on hold to join Torquay's unlikely fight for survival.

The Gulls are already seven points from safety with only four games left, but Tottenham loanee Coulthirst, 20, scored the first and set up the winner for skipper Lee Mansell.

England Under-19 striker Coulthirst signed up for the basement battle at the end of March after a chat with Tottenham manager, Tim Sherwood. He revealed:

"I have another year on my contract there and that's where I see my future, but I was definitely up for the challenge with Torquay when the boss called me on deadline day.

"Surprisingly, when I arrived the spirit was quite high. Everyone believed we could stay up and it's had an effect on me too. If we can win next week it'll make it interesting. We have no pressure on us, but the other teams do."

Torquay manager. Chris Hargreaves is refusing to throw in the towel and said:

"When I took the job I was told it was to keep us up or bring us back up, but I have to believe we can stay up and I genuinely do. We still have Wycombe to play and if we can win our next game, who knows?

"It is still a massive uphill battle. But it is my job to produce a team for the future whatever league we find ourselves in and I have to take encouragement from what I saw."

Rovers central defender Danny Woodards scored an injury time consolation, but boss Darrell Clarke saw his team fall to within one point of the drop zone and heard them jeered off at the final whistle.

Clarke said:

“We deserved the stick we got. I am here to stand up and be counted, and I need the players to do exactly the same thing.

Rovers came close to opening the scoring in the first six minutes when striker Chris Beardsley nodded full back Lee Brown's cross inches over from six yards and then central defender Krystian Pearce nearly turned the ball into his own net before Rice saved on the line.

Cheltenham Town 1 Southend United 2

Barry Corr and Kevan Hurst are on a mission to settle some unfinished business at Wembley.

The pair grabbed a goal each to keep Southend firmly in the play-off race.

Striker Corr, 29, cancelled out Byron Harrison's first half opener in the 64th minute, shortly after coming on as a substitute, before revealing:

"We lost in the Johnstone's Paint final at Wembley last season. I was on the bench and gutted not to play. I'd love to be back in the starting eleven and win there."

Corr was making his first appearance after completing a three match ban following a red card picked up against Bury. He said:

"It was unfortunate and a bit silly from me, so it was good to get the goal to repay the boys a bit. That's three wins on the bounce for us and at this time of the season building some momentum as you go into the play-offs.

And winger Hurst, 28, is determined to banish his own bad memories of Wembley. He explained:

"I've been there five times and only won once when I was with Scunthorpe when they were promoted, but I was injured and missed the final. Hopefully it will be sixth time lucky for me."

Delighted Shrimpers manager Phil Brown was especially pleased for Corr and said:

"It was brilliant for Barry who has had a bit of a tough time. He has had a harsh red card and a three-game ban. He then has to suffer the indignity of a club fine. To have him on the bench was just fantastic."

Furious Cheltenham boss Mark Yates called his players 'pathetic' and said:

"Maybe it is time to give one or two of the young kids a game - I can't wait for this season to end."

It was Brown's inspired substitution that kept Southend in the play-off places and killed off Cheltenham's lingering hopes.

Brown brought on Corr in the 62nd minute to ruffle the Robins' feathers.

Former Sunderland boss Brown added:

"One or two harsh words were said at half time. We made substitutions in a positive manner and it got us the win. Barry has worked hard for us and deserved his goal."

Striker Corr drilled in a low shot from just inside the area for his ninth goal of the season.

Hurst sealed the win three minutes later when he raced on to a defence splitting pass from midfielder Ryan Leonard and chipped in his twelfth goal of the campaign over keeper Scott Brown from twelve yards.

Striker Byron Harrison had opened the scoring for Cheltenham in added time at the end of the first half.

Winger Jermaine McGlashan laid the ball back to the edge of the box and Harrison drilled a low shot past keeper Daniel Bentley to notch up his fourteenth goal of the season.

But Yates blasted:

"The players know that I'm the angriest man in the world tonight. We stopped doing our jobs for ten minutes."

Lee Barnard had four chances to put Southend up before the break.

In the sixteenth minute Brown did well to block Barnard's shot from the edge of the box and eight minutes later the striker saw a shot from fourteen yards bobble past the upright.

Barnard then saw Brown claim a 25 yard drive before he glanced a right wing cross from Hurst narrowly wide of the far post.   

Cheltenham Town 1 Southend United 2

Barry Corr and Kevan Hurst are on a mission to settle some unfinished business at Wembley.

The pair grabbed a goal each to keep Southend firmly in the play-off race.

Striker Corr, 29, cancelled out Byron Harrison's first half opener in the 64th minute, shortly after coming on as a substitute, before revealing:

"We lost in the Johnstone's Paint final at Wembley last season. I was on the bench and gutted not to play. I'd love to be back in the starting eleven and win there."

Corr was making his first appearance after completing a three match ban following a red card picked up against Bury. He said:

"It was unfortunate and a bit silly from me, so it was good to get the goal to repay the boys a bit. That's three wins on the bounce for us and at this time of the season building some momentum as you go into the play-offs.

And winger Hurst, 28, is determined to banish his own bad memories of Wembley. He explained:

"I've been there five times and only won once when I was with Scunthorpe when they were promoted, but I was injured and missed the final. Hopefully it will be sixth time lucky for me."

Delighted Shrimpers manager Phil Brown was especially pleased for Corr and said:

"It was brilliant for Barry who has had a bit of a tough time. He has had a harsh red card and a three-game ban. He then has to suffer the indignity of a club fine. To have him on the bench was just fantastic."

Furious Cheltenham boss Mark Yates called his players 'pathetic' and said:

"Maybe it is time to give one or two of the young kids a game - I can't wait for this season to end."

It was Brown's inspired substitution that kept Southend in the play-off places and killed off Cheltenham's lingering hopes.

Brown brought on Corr in the 62nd minute to ruffle the Robins' feathers.

Former Sunderland boss Brown added:

"One or two harsh words were said at half time. We made substitutions in a positive manner and it got us the win. Barry has worked hard for us and deserved his goal."

Striker Corr drilled in a low shot from just inside the area for his ninth goal of the season.

Hurst sealed the win three minutes later when he raced on to a defence splitting pass from midfielder Ryan Leonard and chipped in his twelfth goal of the campaign over keeper Scott Brown from twelve yards.

Striker Byron Harrison had opened the scoring for Cheltenham in added time at the end of the first half.

Winger Jermaine McGlashan laid the ball back to the edge of the box and Harrison drilled a low shot past keeper Daniel Bentley to notch up his fourteenth goal of the season.

But Yates blasted:

"The players know that I'm the angriest man in the world tonight. We stopped doing our jobs for ten minutes."

Lee Barnard had four chances to put Southend up before the break.

In the sixteenth minute Brown did well to block Barnard's shot from the edge of the box and eight minutes later the striker saw a shot from fourteen yards bobble past the upright.

Barnard then saw Brown claim a 25 yard drive before he glanced a right wing cross from Hurst narrowly wide of the far post.