CHRIS SO IMPRESSED AS BLUES MARCH ON

LEAGUE ONE AND TWO MIDWEEK ROUND-UP

By John Lyons

CAPTION: Paik Seung-ho of Birmingham

BIRMINGHAM boss Chris Davies saluted his players after they overcame Stevenage 2-1to move 14 points clear at the summit on Tuesday night.

Goals from Kieran Dowell, a 27th-minute penalty, and Paik Seung-ho (47 minutes) put the Blues in control before sub Jake Young pulled one back at the death. It made it eight home league wins on the bounce.

“I thought the first half was one of our best performances of the season at home,” said Davies. “Second half we weren’t quite at those heights, but overall it is a really good win.”

Wrexham missed the chance to go second, tumbling to a 2-0defeat at play-off chasing Reading. Harvey Knibbs (51 pen) and Lewis Wing (55) were on target for the Royals, who lost Michael Stickland to a second yellow card with 15 minutes to go.

Fast-improving Charlton moved fourth with a 1-0victory at Crawley, courtesy of Thierry Small’s 37th-minute effort.

Bolton suffered a setback, losing 3-2at Bristol Rovers. Defender Connor Taylor headed an 88th minute winner for the Pirates after veteran striker Chris Martin had twice given them the lead, the first time from the spot. Aaron Morley and John McAtee replied for Bolton.

Sonny Carey netted Blackpool’s winner as they came from behind to beat strugglers Cambridge 2-1, while Exeter moved further away from trouble with a 2-0home win against Mansfield. Demetri Mitchell (8) and Angus MacDonald (49) scored.

In League Two, Notts County got their promotion challenge back on track with a fine 2-0victory at in-form Grimsby. Alassana Jatta (56) and David McGoldrick (88) were on target.

AFC Wimbledon’s hopes took a hit as they went down to a surprise 2-1home defeat against mid-table Cheltenham. Matty Taylor struck a 79th-minute winner for the Robins, who had opened the scoring through Ashley Hay (24). Marcus Browne (37) netted for the Dons.

On-song Colchester boosted their play-off hopes with a dramatic 2-1success at home against Port Vale. Fiacre Kelleher headed an 86th-minute winner for the U’s just a minute after sub Rico Richards had levelled.

Liam Mandeville (40 & 90+6), Aribim Pepple (43) and Armando Dobra (59) were on target as Chesterfield romped to a 4-0victory at Salford, who lost Hakeeb Adelakun to a straight red card after an off-the-ball altercation on 24 minutes.

Accrington took a big step towards safety by thrashing Newport 5-0. Joe O’Brien-Whitmarsh and Kelsey Mooney bagged two apiece, and Tyler Walton got the other.