We take a look at the weekend results.
While the U’s were moving into the top half of the League One table on Saturday afternoon, there were ten other matches across the division with key clashes in the race for promotion and relegation battle.
U's programme columnist Barry Landy takes a look around League One on a positive weekend for the club.
U's programme columnist Barry Landy takes a look around League One on a positive weekend for the club.
At the top, Brentford’s remarkable eight match winning streak came to an end as they could only manage a 1-1 draw away to Walsall.
Despite Clayton Donaldson’s opener, Craig Westcarr’s goal on the stroke of halftime brought Walsall level and ensured Mark Warburton’s side slipped off the summit.
Leyton Orient had new signing Chris Dagnall to thank as they capitalised on Brentford’s dropped points with a 2-1 win over Crewe.
The strugglers took the lead shortly after the break but a quickfire brace from Dagnall, signed from Barnsley in the week, helped Orient to go open up a one point lead at the top.
In the play-off picture, Peterborough put their nightmare start to 2014 behind them with a 3-0 victory over Tranmere.
Four league defeats on the bounce and an FA Cup exit at the hands of non-league Kidderminster cast serious doubts over Darren Ferguson’s sides promotion hopes but Britt Assombalonga (2) and Nicky Ajose secured their first win in a month.
MK Dons own push for a top six place was dealt a blow as they drew 2-2 away to Bristol City. Steve Cotterill’s team are now undefeated in five matches and had former Dons striker Sam Baldock to thank on Saturday.
The forward struck twice in the second half to cancel out Shaun Williams’ and Ben Reeves’ goals early on.
At the bottom, Callum Ball’s goal was enough to see Notts County beat Stevenage 1-0 and lift Shaun Derry’s men out of the relegation zone, to 16th.
The on-loan Derby forward’s first goal for the Magpies leaves Stevenage rooted to the bottom of the League One table, but with just one of the bottom nine teams in the division winning (Notts County), they remain just points adrift of safety.
The latest goal on Saturday afternoon came at Deepdale, as Franck Moussa’s stunning 98th minute volley earned a point for Coventry in their 1-1 with Preston. The goal and the point actually meant the U’s finished the day in 12th, rather than 11th after their win in Cumbria.
Our next opponents Shrewsbury lost 0-3 at home to Rotherham United, a defeat which leave them just a point above the bottom four.