Championship Stoke City 2-1 Luton Town Luton Town fell to sixth in the Championship after suffering their first defeat of the season.  | | Euan Duncan reports. |
Luton were knocked off their perch by a last gasp winner and the first half dismissal of striker Steve Howard. The Hatters bossed the game until Howard's red card, which afterwards manager Mike Newell said was for spitting. Luton plan to appeal against Andy D'Urso's decision, but whatever the outcome it will be of little consolation. Dean Morgan's ninth minute goal after poor Stoke defending seemed to set up Luton for another victory but the ten men were left with a difficult task which became harder when defender Marlon Broomes equalised for Stoke shortly after the hour, the ball squirming through Marlon beresford's hands. The winner came in stoppage time when midfielder Dave Brammer let fly with an unstoppable 25-yard drive into the top left hand corner. Agonisingly for Luton, Stoke didn't deserve all three points and the Hatters missed their opportunity at the Britannia Stadium. Luton manager Mike Newell says he will appeal against the red card, given by referee Andy D'urso who sent off Howard at Brentford last season. "He's been sent off for spitting at their number two who doesn't know anything about it" he said. "He's been sent off for spitting which he hasn't done and Howie wouldn't do. I've asked Howie and I only have to look him in the eyes. I know my players and I know that they're honest players and none of them are capable of spitting at an opponent." Stoke City Goals: Broomes 63, Brammer 90 Luton Town Sent Off: Howard (26) Booked: Heikkinen Goals: Morgan 9 Attendance: 18,653 Referee: A D'Urso (Essex) Watford 3-1 Burnley Matthew Spring scored on his debut as in-form Watford secured victory against patched-up Burnley at Vicarage Road.  | | Simon Oxley reports. |
There was enough incident to fill several Saturday afternoons and a tale of two goalkeepers. Watford's Foster conceded a penalty but wasn't sent off and then Burnley's Jensen was stretchered off but was left lying in agony as Watford played on to score their match clinching third goal. Marlon King had put the home side in front with Gareth O'Connor levelling from the spot after Foster brought down Akinbiyi, but Gavin Mahon's deflected shot restored Watford's lead before half time. The Hornets though were unable to finish the job and keeper Foster made excellent saves from Akinbiyi and Noel-Williams to keep them in front, but as Burnley threatened an equaliser, Darius Henerson's challenge left Jensen pole-axed. The referee waved play on and after several bites of the cherry, it was ex-Hatter Matthew Spring on his debut, who stabbed in the decisive shot. Watford were riding their luck maybe but they worked hard to make that luck. Referee Matt Messias later apologised to Burnley for not stopping the game, and Watford manager Adrian Boothroyd said his players played to the whistle. "We can only go on what decisions are made" he said. Watford Goals: King 11, Mahon 30, Spring 83 Burnley Goals: Garreth O'Connor 16 pen. Attendance: 16,802 Referee: M Messias (S Yorkshire) League One Milton Keynes Dons 1-1 Colchester United Aaron Wilbraham scored a first half goal for the Dons, but Colchester netted a second half equaliser after having their goalkeeper sent off. The Dons still haven't won a game in League One but it's not for want of trying after an impressive performance against an impressive Colchester side. Wilbraham grabbed his first of the season with a 15-yard volley after the home side had weathered the early storm and it cold have been two early in the second half when McCleod hit the cross bar. And when Colchester goalkeeper Aiden Davison was sent off on 69 minutes, it looked like three home points. But, as always seems to be the case, the ten men dug in and got their reward with an equaliser from centre half Liam Chilvers who headed a back post corner. The Dons tried to hit back but failed to replicate their first half performance. If they keep on like this they will get their elusive victory - but it wasn't to be this time. MK Dons Goals: Wilbraham 23 Colchester United Sent Off: Davison (69) Goals: Chilvers 79 Attendance: 4,423 Referee: K Wright (Cambridgeshire) League Two Wycombe Wanderers 4-0 Bury Wycombe Wanderers produced an excellent attacking performance to crush Bury and are now up to third in League Two. Paul Dixon was at the Causeway Stadium. It was Wycombe's home form that cost them a place last season, but if this showing is anything to go by, Wanderers will be there or there abouts come May. In truth Bury were poor, but the Chairboys were dominant throughout and could have been 3-0 up before captain Roger Johnson finally broke the deadlock eight minutes before half time with a header from Stefan Oakes corner. Ian Stonebridge replaced Joe Burnell at the break and he nearly made it two but saw his shot blocked by Bury keeper Edwards. A mix-up in the visitors defence allowed Tommy Mooney in and he cooly slotted past Edwards to make it 2-0. It was three just six minutes later when Stonebridge crossed for Tyson to prod home, and the striker got his second moments later, latching onto an Oakes pass to lob Edwards and complete the rout. A sour point for the Chairboys was injuries to Joe Burnell and Matt Bloomfield, the latter suffering suspected ankle ligament damage which could keep him out for a number of weeks. Wycombe Wanderers Goals: Johnson 37, Mooney 68, Tyson 74, 80 Bury Attendance: 4,421 Referee: J Singh (Middlesex) Conference Southport 3-2 Stevenage Borough It was a day to forget for Stevenage as they lost at Southport in the Conference. Traffic problems on the M6 meant Stevenage arrived late and the kick-off was delayed until 3.30, even before the defeat. Neil Robinson inspired Southport to the victory over Stevenage with a clinical double blast, but in the end the hosts had to survive a late fightback to seal the points. Both sides looked sluggish in the early stages after an accident on the roads delayed kick-off by half an hour, but eventually it was Southport who upped the pace to settle things with three goals in a decisive 25-minute spell. Midway through the first half Robinson's charge on goal was halted by Justin Gregory, allowing Carl Baker to step up to score from the spot. Then, after Steve Pickford had hit the woodwork, Robinson got on the scoresheet himself, first drilling into the top corner before thrashing the third low into the corner just after the interval. Anthony Elding pulled one back with a smart finish close to the hour before Darryn Stamp converted from the spot following a handball, but it was too little too late.
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