ChampionshipAdam Armstrong stars as Southampton thrash Wednesday to close gap
Adam Armstrong produced an attacking masterclass as Southampton dispatched Sheffield Wednesday 4-0 to equal their longest English Football League unbeaten record.
The top scorer Armstrong scored one and set up Che Adams, Ryan Fraser and Sékou Mara as Saints leapt into the top two for the first time since the opening day and closed the gap to table-toppers Leicester to 10 points.
Saints are now unbeaten in 19 league games and 20 in all competitions, which is their best run since becoming a Football League club in 1920. The club’s all-time record, the only better than the current run, of 24 in 1896 and 1897 came when they were known as Southampton St Mary’s and had yet to move to the Dell.
The hosts would enjoy the better of the first half but the first two minutes belonged to Wednesday. First, the Saints keeper, Gavin Bazunu, took a heavy touch and was mugged by Josh Windass, but the attacker could not squeeze in.
League One: Portsmouth slip to Orient defeat
ShowBolton were denied the chance to take over at the summit after leaders Portsmouth were stunned at home to Leyton Orient.
Orient ran out 3-0 winners after a scintillating first-half at Fratton Park where Shaq Forde, Jordan Brown and Daniel Ageyi were on target.
Sol Brynn also saved Colby Bishop's 40th-minute penalty to compound a miserable afternoon for John Mousinho's team.
Peterborough moved up to second after a brace by Ephron Mason-Clark earned a 2-1 victory away to Charlton. Mason-Clark broke the deadlock and although Alfie May levelled for the hosts, the Posh number 10 claimed all three points with a fine low finish, 15 minutes from time.
Mark Harris' double earned fifth-placed Oxford a 3-1 win at Carlisle with Tyler Goodrham also in the goals for Des Buckingham's promotion-chasing side.
Barnsley edged out Bristol Rovers by a 2-1 score after Devante Cole and Corey O'Keeffe found the net to stay ahead of Stevenage, who remain seventh despite a 1-0 victory at Shrewsbury thanks to Jamie Reid's 84th-minute effort.
Fleetwood stay bottom after a 2-1 loss at Cambridge where Sullay Kaikai struck a last-minute winner.
Elsewhere, Albie Morgan scored twice to earn Blackpool a 2-0 win over Exeter as Northampton and Wigan played out a 1-1 draw at Sixfields.
Lincoln earned a point at Wycombe after Ethan Erhahon grabbed an equaliser in the eighth minute of stoppage time.
From the corner, Michael Ihiekwe headed wide - but the visitors would not have another first-half shot as Saints monopolised the possession. The centre-back Ihiekwe had to think fast to run back onto his own goal line after Fraser had volleyed into the ground and over the goalkeeper, Cameron Dawson. Taylor Harwood-Bellis headed a corner over but otherwise, it was a test in patience until Adams opened the scoring in the 35th minute.
Adams, who is out of contract in the summer and has been linked with a Premier League move this month, latched onto an Armstrong cross via a Bambo Diaby error, beat a defender and lashed into the bottom corner. It was the Scotland international’s eighth goal of the season, and Armstrong’s 10th assist.
Wednesday brought on Ashley Fletcher and Will Vaulks at the break and rallied when the former pinged a low effort towards the bottom corner, with Bazunu flinging himself to his right to save. In the 63rd minute, Saints gave themselves daylight with a smart counter which saw Adams nick the ball off Diaby and slot through to Stuart Armstrong. He found Adam Armstrong in acres of space to notch for the 14th time this campaign.
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League Two: Wrexham climb to second but Stockport stay top
ShowWrexham moved up to second in League Two after a 2-0 win over Wimbledon, but Stockport remain out in front after they beat Walsall.
Akil Wright, Isaac Olaofe and Paddy Madden fired leaders Stockport to a 16th league success of the campaign with Douglas James-Taylor's goal a mere consolation for Walsall in a 3-1 loss.
Phil Parkinson's Wrexham leapfrogged Mansfield after second-half efforts by Steven Fletcher and Paul Mullin. Mansfield dropped points after being held to a 1-1 draw by hosts Morecambe, who claimed a share of the spoils when Charlie Brown netted with 12 minutes left.
Fourth-placed Barrow also lost ground on Stockport after a 2-2 draw at Sutton. New Sutton boss Steve Morison watched Harry Beautyman's brace earn them a point, which moved them off the bottom.
Forest Green are now 24th after Troy Deeney's 10-men lost 2-0 at home to Harrogate.
New boss Danny Cowley watched Colchester earn a point in his first home match after Tom Hopper cancelled out Andy Cook's opener for Bradford, while 20th-placed Grimsby and Notts County shared 10 goals in a thrilling draw.
David McGoldrick looked to be the hero for County with a brace - which included a 92nd-minute effort - but Harry Wood produced a leveller for hosts Grimsby, three minutes later in a remarkable 5-5 scoreline.
Crewe and MK Dons complete the top six after 2-1 wins over Swindon and Tranmere respectively, while Gillingham are eighth after Macauley Bonne hit a 75th-minute winner at Accrington. Newport and Salford also toasted 1-0 wins at Doncaster and Crawley respectively.
Was this helpful?Thank you for your feedback.Bazunu battered away a Windass free-kick before Di’Shon Bernard cleared Armstrong’s attempt off the line as the game became open. Fraser continued from the two goals he scored against Walsall in the FA Cup by adding a third in the 75th minute.
The Newcastle loanee steered in but Armstrong’s burst, stepovers and vision to pick out Fraser across the box was the catalyst for the goal. Armstrong was at it again with five minutes to go when he squared for the substitute Mara to tap in to make it nine straight St Mary’s wins.
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