NOTTS CO 1, BURTON 1

Notts County's Karl Hawley scores the opening goal
COUNT ME IN - Notts County's Karl Hawley scores the opening goal

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IAN McPARLAND is praying Sol Campbell gets match-fit soon after a defensive blunder let Burton escape with a point.

Campbell was introduced to the Meadow Lane fans before the game as the latest part of Sven Goran Eriksson's Notts County masterplan.

The Arsenal and England legend watched Karl Hawley put his new team on course for victory with a stunning 54th-minute strike.

But they were just six minutes away from victory when Burton sub Richard Walker equalised.

Walker had only been on the pitch four minutes when County failed to clear and he grabbed the chance to lash the loose ball past keeper Kasper Schmeichel.

It might have been even worse for County a minute later as Greg Pearson almost won it for Brewers with a left- footer that smacked against the foot of a post.

Schmeichel had been County's hero in the first half, but McParland thought his side's second-half dominance deserved greater reward.

The outstanding Johnnie Jackson hit a 20-yard free-kick against the bar and McParland blamed a defensive lapse for the goal that denied his team victory.

He said: "They only had one shot in the second half and that was because of bad defending. If we hadn't dived in, they wouldn't have had a shot at goal and the game would have been won.

"We have to stay switched on for the whole game.

"The match should have been dead and buried before they equalised. Burton could not get out of their half in the second half.

"We had wave after wave of attacks and on another day and we would have gone on to score three or four."

Burton manager Paul Peschisolido insisted: "That's a huge point for us and it could have been three.

"Their keeper made more saves than ours and we hit the post in the last minute. We showed great team spirit."

Happy Burton fans chanted Peschisolido's name after his move to bring on Walker paid off.

The Brewers boss added: "What an impact he made. I think his goal surprised everyone."

His team had come closest to breaking the first-half deadlock with Schmeichel saving well from former Burton striker Shaun Harrad.

And after the ball was sent back into the penalty area, Jackson threw himself in front of Pearson's shot.

County were more purposeful after the break and went ahead before the hour.

Jackson's pass tempted Brewers keeper Artur Krysiak off his line, but he hesitated and Hawley nipped in to lift a perfectly-weighted shot into the top corner.

ROTHERHAM 3 CHESTERFIELD 1

CARETAKER John Breckin is set to follow Mark Robins to Barnsley despite leading Rotherham into top spot.

Robins is set to be confirmed as manager at Oakwell tomorrow.

But Millers chairman Tony Stewart will not rush to name a replacement despite Ronnie Moore being the fans' favourite.

Stewart said: "Mark has asked to take staff with him to Barnsley and I think John Breckin is part of that. If Ronnie is interested then we will be talking to him - among others."

Jamie Lowry's 21st-minute penalty put Chesterfield ahead after Jamie Green fouled Drew Talbot.

But Danny Harrison levelled on 68 minutes, Adam Le Fondre hit his fourth goal of the season four minutes later and Kevin Ellison nabbed No 3 on 81 minutes.

Frustrated Chesterfield chief John Sheridan said: "We looked comfortable then let in three very sloppy goals."

ALDERSHOT 2 HEREFORD 2

MARVIN MORGAN went from villain to hero as Aldershot nicked a late point with two goals in two minutes.

Striker Morgan gifted Hereford a third-minute opener by handling Kenny Lunt's corner.

Tristan Plummer netted the penalty - and then made it 2-0 after outpacing Dave Winfield 12 minutes from time.

But Danny Hylton headed home Kirk Hudson's cross with four minutes left and Morgan fired the leveller.

Shots boss Gary Waddock admitted: "At 2-0 down with four minutes to go, you have to be happy to get a point."

Hereford chief John Trewick said: "It's devastating. It feels like a kick in the stomach."

BURY 0 ACCRINGTON 2

ROBERT GRANT grabbed two late goals to give hard-up Accrington a much-needed boost.

The club were last week told they have just eight weeks to pay a £308,000 tax bill - or face a winding-up order.

A 'Save Our Stanley' campaign has been launched and Grant showed the players are doing their bit by snatching a win.

Boss John Coleman said: "We wanted to show the people of Accrington the players care - and they did that. It was a great team performance."

Bury striker Andy Bishop missed the best chances of a dismal affair before Grant pounced on two defensive errors.

Shakers boss Alan Knill said: "Their goals were shocking."

CHELTENHAM 1 DAGENHAM 1

BOSS Martin Allen saluted his heavyweight strike pair Barry Hayles and Julian Alsop after Cheltenham held high-flying Dagenham.

Allen said: "The combined age of our strikers today was 74, and I think that's in stones.

"But they both played brilliantly in midweek and deserved the chance to start today and I don't think anyone would argue with their performance."

It was a day for veterans, as Dagenham's 40-year-old keeper Tony Roberts rescued his side a point.

Roberts made crucial first-half saves from Drissa Diallo and Frankie Artus and then thwarted Hayles, 37, after the break.

By that time Paul Benson had fired Dagenham ahead with a goal four minutes after half-time.

But Cheltenham grabbed a point through defender Michael Townsend's header nine minutes from time.

Daggers boss John Still said: "Tony didn't have a great game in midweek but he showed what a great goalkeeper he is today."

CREWE 2 MACCLESFIELD 1

JOEL GRANT'S late winner left Macclesfield gaffer Keith Alexander cursing his luck.

Ricky Sappleton's first goal for the club on 32 minutes looked set to earn a draw after Calvin Zola had nodded Crewe in front with just 12 minutes gone.

But Grant fired home five minutes from time to lift Alex into fifth and leave Macc still seeking their first away win.

Alexander insisted: "We weren't robbed - but we did deserve a draw.

"We've played some good football this season but we're not getting what we deserve."

Crewe's Gudjon Thordarson said: "We should have killed it off early on."

PORT VALE 4 GRIMSBY 0

RAMPANT Vale crushed Grimsby and boss Micky Adams roared: "It's a long time since our fans had something to shout about."

Louis Dodds got the opener just before the break with Tommy Fraser, Gareth Owen and Lee Collins all netting in the second period.

Vale also had Marc Richards' late penalty saved by Josh Lillis after Danny Boshell fouled Lewis Haldane.

Boshell was sent off for his foul on Haldane the penalty foul - Grimsby's third red card in a week.

Boss Mike Newell said: "We must address our lack of concentration."

TORQUAY 1 B'MOUTH 2

STEVE FLETCHER hit the winner to lift Bournemouth into second and declared: "This is an amazing moment for us."

The South Coast side beat the drop last season despite being docked 17 points after going into administration.

But the dark days looked long gone as sub Fletcher headed in Liam Feeney's 87th-minute cross.

The striker, 37, said: "Everybody down here has been through hell over the last couple of years.

"And I'm delighted to be a part of things as we turn the corner. It's all down to manager Eddie Howe - he's done wonders."

Cherries went ahead when Brett Pitman glanced in a 49th-minute header.

Chris Todd headed in Danny Stevens' cross to level 15 minutes later, but Fletcher nicked the winner.

Torquay boss Paul Buckle insisted: "I'm not too disappointed because we played very well.

"The difference was that they took the two chances we allowed them."

LINCOLN 3 DARLO 0

STRIKER Rene Howe fired two cracking goals as managerless Lincoln crushed rock-bottom Darlington.

Howe volleyed home after just two minutes and hit his second in the 29th minute.

Lincoln - who axed boss Peter Jackson in midweek - got their third on 55 minutes when Lennell John-Lewis set up striker Chris Fagan.

Happy caretaker manager Simon Clark said: "We asked for commitment and aggression and we got it."

Dire Darlo forced just one save out of Lincoln keeper Rob Burch.

Quakers chief Colin Todd moaned: "It was a very inept performance."

SHREWSBURY 1 BRADFORD 2

BRADFORD boss Stuart McCall admitted his side were lucky as they withstood a Shrewsbury onslaught.

He said: "We had a huge slice of luck, they hit the bar twice as they gave us a pummelling."

Even in the first 10 minutes, James Hanson had to clear off the line and Simon Eastwood made a fine save to keep out Dave Hibbert.

But Gareth Evans swept Bradford ahead and Michael Flynn made it 2-0 before the break.

Shrews finally got back in it through Hibbert's header but were denied when Kelvin Langmead and Jake Simpson hit the woodwork.

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