Oxford boss Des Buckingham has urged his players to find their consistency after a 3-1 win at Carlisle.

The promotion-chasing U’s remain in the hunt after Mark Harris’ double and Tyler Goodrham’s effort at Brunton Park.

Alfie McColmont’s goal was a mere consolation for the relegation-threatened Cumbrians, but Buckingham’s charges are three points off the top three after a fourth victory in six games.

“It’s a big win for us,” said the Oxford manager.

“We’re obviously still short of bodies ourselves, but we’re slowly starting to get right.

“It’s about trying to remain consistent and if we do that the performances will come.

“It’s important with 20 games to go to get as many points as possible.”

Harris’ brace, with goals either side of half-time, took his tally to four in four, and Buckingham is pleased as punch his striker is getting the rewards after an 11-game goal drought.

He said: “Mark’s getting some reward for the efforts he put in for the spell he had when he wasn’t scoring.

“We’ve spoken in the dressing room about standards so we don’t get too high or too low with the performance or the result.

“Mark Harris’ attitude to that spell where he wasn’t scoring, he was creating, he was hitting the bar and the post and the keepers were making good saves. If he could continue doing that he would be scoring and it’s great to see those efforts hitting the net rather than the woodwork or the keeper now.”

Struggling Carlisle have won just one of their last 12 league games and boss Paul Simpson believes the difference has been the quality in front of goal.

He said: “They are a very good side. They’re a club that is gearing up to try and be promoted.

“When we didn’t make those opportunities count in the first half they started to get control of the game.

“The first goal was a set-play and it was a really simple thing where we don’t pick up the biggest centre-half on the pitch, he’s 6ft 4in, and he gets a free header. You go a goal down and you’re up against it and we were rocked a bit.

“The second goal is an absolute sickener to give that away when the striker runs through two centre-backs. If we had VAR it would be given offside.

“But we don’t, it’s down to the human eye. Whether it’s right or wrong is debatable, we don’t really know. We were chasing it after that.

“That was the difference, the difference in quality in the final third separated us. We’ve got in there and not been able to test the keeper enough.

“Things go against you when you’re down but we stuck at it, kept trying to give it a go. There were incidents where we should have done better and worked the goalkeeper more.”

Michael Carrick admitted Middlesbrough’s bench made the difference after they came from a goal behind beat Millwall 3-1 at The Den in the Sky Bet Championship.

Carrick’s Boro were on a high after Tuesday’s 1-0 Carabao Cup semi-final first leg victory over Chelsea and rounded off an impressive week with victory over another London side.

Joe Bryan opened the scoring for the hosts before strikes from Lukas Engel, Isaiah Jones and substitute Marcus Forss turned things around.

Matt Crooks also came off the bench to have a positive impact in the second half.

Carrick said: “We knew it was going to be a challenge but we found our way the longer the game went, I’m delighted for the boys.

“We showed good spirit and quality and the bench made the difference for us, which we missed for a period of time.

“I thought the squad felt strong today and it can get stronger. We have a good group.

“Marcus (Forss) has worked hard for a period of time now and it’s a big goal for him and for us.”

Millwall struggled to replicate their dominant first half display and lost their way in the second 45.

Manager Joe Edwards highlighted his team’s injuries and agreed that Boro’s squad depth played a part on the day.

He added: “We felt that today (Boro’s depth). I’ve felt it in other games as well.

“I remember being stood down there when we were hanging on to a 1-0 lead against Norwich and when I saw the subs they were bringing on I thought ‘wow, that’s some impact and it will now get harder in the final 20 to 30 minutes.’

“That’s something I felt today.

“There’s a group of around seven of our players in their tracksuits today who are unable to play and that hurts us.”

Edwards struggled to hide his disappointment after the Lions failed to make it four successive league wins.

He said: “It’s disappointing. The goals they scored were soft and the bottom line is if you are playing a team at that level and dominate as much as we did in the first half an hour we needed to cash in and get that second goal.”

Stoke head coach Steven Schumacher believes Lewis Baker can flourish in his system after he netted the winner in a narrow 1-0 Championship victory at Rotherham.

The game’s only goal and moment of real quality came through Baker’s sensational free-kick just before the break.

That proved to be the difference and ensured Schumacher a second victory in charge.

Stoke had certainly enjoyed the better of the first half but they did not take the lead until the fourth minute of added on time when Baker’s strike whistled into the top corner.

Schumacher wants the former Chelsea man to keep contributing and hinted he could become a key man under him.

He said: “It was a brilliant goal, unstoppable. I am really pleased for him because he hasn’t played much football. He’s a proper model professional.

“He is the type of player who competes very well and he’s got a goal in him. It’s important he stays available. He’s doing really well and he’s a talented player.

“When you come to a new club you try to build relationships with people. This system is designed for players like him, midfielders who score goals.

“Hopefully he can keep contributing. He’s one of the best two-footed players I have worked with.”

Rotherham came closest through former Stoke man Sam Clucas’ long-range strike but their former loanee goalkeeper Daniel Iversen enjoyed a quiet afternoon.

There were even fewer chances in the second half with the Millers failing to really put the visitors’ goal under threat and Stoke content with a one-goal cushion.

The best opportunities fell the way of Andre Vidigal, who had two opportunities to notch a second.

One of his efforts was palmed out by Viktor Johansson and a counter-attack deep into added time was curtailed by Cohen Bramall’s desperate defending.

Schumacher added: “I think it was a really tough game and what we expected. You have to come and battle and stand up to everything Rotherham throw at you. It’s a tough place to come to. It was a really good performance.

“The way they play, you have got to try and be brave but use your brain as well. It was really well executed from my players.”

Rotherham head coach Leam Richardson will now look to bring some players in after loanees Dexter Lembikisa and Fred Onyedinma departed the New York Stadium this week.

He said: “Hopefully we will be busy next week. We have needed bodies from January first. We are struggling to fill the bench.

“The first emotion was there was a game there to be won. I think it was a 0-0 game with one moment of quality which wins the game.

“I don’t think it should have been a free-kick. I think their manager would be saying the same thing if it was a flipside.

“In the second half we were the aggressor without having that final moment of quality or decision making.

“We have been very diligent in certain areas and aggressive in others. One of my frustrations is we got in some good areas but we need to be more aggressive with our crosses and shots.

“We have got to improve daily and have really good habits. We have to keep being really positive and working hard.

“I won’t have anybody knock the lads’ work effort or endeavour.”

Barnsley head coach Neill Collins praised his side’s first-half performance after they beat Bristol Rovers 2-1 at Oakwell

Devante Cole and Corey O’Keefe scored either side of Chris Martin’s equaliser to wrap up the three points.

Collins said: “It was a tough game. It was a game that I knew was going to be very tough.

“The fine balance is always emphasising to the team how tough it’s going to be without getting them scared and making sure we know it’s about us.

“I just felt this was a big one because Bristol (Rovers) will still have an eye on the play-offs. They’re good enough to do that and they’ve been on a good run of form.

“The players trained fantastically. I thought in the first half they were really excellent in most parts of the game apart from the final pass or final cross.

“Once we did get that right, we scored and probably should’ve done it a little bit more often and taken advantage of the first-half performance.”

On his side’s reaction to losing their lead, Collins said: “There’s always an opponent to consider, they brought on two big target strikers. We don’t have that dominant presence, although the lads at the back stood up to it really well.

“We’re going to have a lot more games like that between now and the end of the season. The good thing for me is there’s a lot of room for us still to improve, but a lot to be pleased with.”

Bristol Rovers manager Matt Taylor pointed out the weaknesses that led to his side’s downfall.

He said: “We had a lot of chances; I didn’t think we were good enough first half.

“I think we lacked a little bit of our strength, intensity and brightness when the ball was in and around us.

“The second-half performance was much improved in terms of our understanding of what the game needed first and foremost.

“We haven’t kept a clean sheet since I’ve been here, that’s a pretty damning statement of myself and this group of players because we do create chances, we always look like we’ve got a threat about us.

“We’ve got to find a way of staying more controlled in games.”

On how his team conceded the first goal, Taylor said: “Every goal you concede you’ll go into real detail, but the really clear theme is that we’ve conceded too many goals that we feel are soft goals.

“At the moment, there’s a bit of softness and that’s not always a physical statement, it’s our mindset towards it, our understanding of what’s needed at certain times.

“It’s frustrating because throughout the course of the game we’ve created the cleaner chances, but it’s irrelevant.”

Managers Shaun Maloney and Jon Brady both declared themselves satisfied after Northampton and Wigan shared the points in a hard-fought 1-1 draw at Sixfields.

The Cobblers led through Sam Hoskins’ 16th-minute penalty, awarded for a foul by Latics goalkeeper Sam Tickle on Kieron Bowie, but the visitors struck back and netted a deserved equaliser through Josh Magennis after 64 minutes.

It was a match of few clear-cut chances, with Wigan dominating possession for the most part, and both bosses were pleased to come away with a point for their efforts.

“Wigan are a good side, they move the ball well and cause you all sorts of problems with their shape,” said Brady.

“They pull you apart constantly, and we knew that would happen.

“It was the hardest I have had to work all week to try and nullify all of that, and the boys worked extremely hard.

“Then you look at their resources and what they bring on, Charlie Wyke, Callum McManaman, the Smiths, and jeez.

“But what we have got is heart and huge desire, and we dig in.

“I think their position in the table is pretty false, and without the points deduction they’d be in and around us, so I feel overall, although it can be better, I am quite pleased with that today.”

Maloney felt the point was the least his team deserved.

The Latics enjoyed a 67 per cent share of possession as the away team, and Maloney said: “The performance was right up there with the levels we showed in the 1-1 draw at Barnsley on New Year’s Day, but in a different way.

“At Barnsley we played on the counter-attack, today I thought we were very good with the ball on a really difficult pitch, and it is even harder when you go 1-0 down.

“Mistakes like the one for their goal happen, you are going to get that with some of the younger boys, but I thought we played very, very well. I was really happy with everybody.

“We went in 1-0 down, but the performance in the first half was very, very good.

“We didn’t need to change anything, we just needed to be a bit more aggressive and the response in the second half was good.

“It is difficult sometimes when you stand here if you draw or you get beaten and the performance has been good, but today I have nothing but good things to say about my players.”

Ethan Ross struck a penalty deep into stoppage time as cinch League One leaders Falkirk maintained their unbeaten record with a 2-2 draw at bottom club Edinburgh City.

Kick-off had been delayed by 30 minutes because of issues with safety barriers at Meadowbank Stadium.

Falkirk were stunned as Callum Flatman headed Edinburgh in front in the 28th minute and Alieau Faye soon doubled the lead.

Substitute Calvin Miller pulled a goal back for the Bairns early in the second half.

Just when it seemed like John McGlynn’s side were set for a first league defeat of the season, Coll Donaldson was brought down and Ross kept his cool from the spot to deny Edinburgh a memorable win.

Hamilton are now nine points behind after they beat third-placed Cove Rangers 2-0 at New Douglas Park, where both sides had a player sent off.

Kevin O’Hara gave the hosts an early lead before midfielder Ben Williamson was shown a straight red card for a foul on Kyle Connell.

Jamie Barjonas added a second with 20 minutes left, with Cove defender Michael Doyle then dismissed for a second caution.

Callum Crane scored and was then sent off for violent conduct as Stirling won 1-0 at fourth-placed Montrose.

Tommy Goss’ second-half goal earned relegation-battlers Annan a 1-1 draw at Kelty Hearts, who had gone in front through a penalty from Alfie Bavidge.

It also finished 1-1 between Queen of the South and Alloa at Palmerston Park.

In cinch League Two, Stenhousemuir moved 14 points clear at the top with a 2-0 win at Spartans, where Matt Yates and Matthew Aitken scored in each half.

Peterhead lost ground after a 2-0 defeat at Stranraer.

Chris Johnston and Tam Orr scored either side of the break, with Peterhead midfielder Andrew McCarthy sent off late on.

Dumbarton closed up to within a point of third-placed Spartans with a 1-1 draw at Bonnyrigg Rose.

Russell McLean scored a stoppage-time penalty as Forfar came from behind to beat fellow relegation-battlers Elgin 2-1 at Station Park after Bryan Cameron had been sent off for conceding the late spot-kick.

Bottom side Clyde came from behind to draw 1-1 at East Fife, while it also finished 1-1 between Bonnyrigg Rose and Dumbarton at New Dundas Park.

Arbroath and Ayr were forced to settle for a point apiece as the cinch Championship strugglers played out a goalless draw at Gayfield Stadium.

The hosts went closest in a tight first half when Leighton McIntosh headed against a post, but it was Ayr who had the greater share of the play.

The visitors stepped up a gear after the break and Ahkeem Rose spurned a good chance when he shot at Ali Adams.

Anton Dowds then fired over before Francis Amartey forced another save from Adams and Logan Chalmers hit the goal frame.

Arbroath felt they should have had a penalty in the closing stages after a challenge on Mark Stowe but nothing was given.

Middlesbrough conceded early but battled back strongly to win 3-1 win at Millwall in the Sky Bet Championship.

Michael Carrick’s Reds, who beat Premier League Chelsea in Tuesday’s Carabao Cup semi-final first leg, claimed another London scalp on Saturday.

Joe Bryan opened the scoring for the home side at The Den but goals from Lukas Engel, Isaiah Jones and Marcus Forss turned things around in favour of the Teessiders.

Millwall took a deserved 10th-minute lead, as the visitors cracked under early pressure.

Ryan Longman’s cross was cleared but only into the path of Bryan, who guided his effort into the bottom right corner from outside the box.

The Lions came close to doubling their lead five minutes later. Bryan turned creator and whipped a dangerous cross into the six-yard box, with centre-back Jake Cooper’s first-time effort clipping the bar.

Boro spent large parts of the first half on the back foot but they managed to break forward and equalise seven minutes before the interval.

Jones, whose positive form carried on after his impressive display against Chelsea, threaded a pass to Sam Greenwood. The on-loan Leeds player found the Engel with a low cross and the unmarked Dane levelled with a  close-range finish.

The visitors took the lead in the 58th minute after Bryan misjudged heading a high ball, with pacey former Tooting & Mitcham player Jones advancing and coolly finished past Matija Sarkic.

Millwall sought a way back into the game but failed to replicate their dominance of the early stages and played slow passes around the back, much to the frustration of animated manager Joe Edwards.

The visitors turned the screw and looked the most likely to score again.

Substitute Matt Crooks showed quick feet, turning his man in midfield before unleashing debutant Luke Ayling down the right.

The former Leeds right-back produced an excellent pass for Morgan Rogers,  who failed to connect properly.

However, the points were sealed in added time when Forss scored as the visitors moved into the top half.

Substitute Ricco Diack hit a late equaliser as Partick Thistle came from behind to draw 1-1 in their cinch Championship match at Morton.

Morton had the ball in the net through Iain Wilson’s header in the 24th minute, but it was disallowed for offside before Robbie Crawford’s rising shot was tipped over by Jamie Sneddon.

The hosts eventually went in front in the 32nd minute when Crawford diverted the ball in from close range at a corner, with Jags defender Jack McMillan credited with the final touch for an own goal.

Partick were back on level terms with 15 minutes left when Diack, who had only just come on, drilled in a low shot after good build-up play from fellow substitutes Tomi Adeloye and Scott Robinson.

Adeloye, on loan from Swindon, saw a late effort hit a post and Ben Stanway had a penalty shout turned down in stoppage time as third-placed Thistle had to settle for a point.

Promotion-chasing Oxford kept up the pressure on League One’s top two with a convincing 3-1 victory at Carlisle.

The U’s ran riot as Mark Harris’ brace and a further strike from Tyler Goodrham did the damage at Brunton Park.

Alfie McCalmont pulled one back for the relegation-threatened hosts, but they ultimately slipped to a third defeat in four matches.

The game sprung into life five minutes before the break as Harris slotted home after Elliott Moore headed Cameron Brannagan’s corner into his path.

And within minutes of the restart the striker doubled his and Oxford’s tally with his fourth goal in as many games as he rounded the keeper after being played through by Fin Stevens.

The game was done and dusted in the 68th minute when Goodrham cut inside and expertly found the bottom corner.

McCalmont opened his Cumbrians’ account after some brilliant work from Luke Armstrong to keep the ball alive, but it proved too little too late for Paul Simpson’s strugglers as their poor recent run stretched to just one win in 12 league outings.

Bolton’s League One clash with Cheltenham was abandoned after 29 minutes due to a medical emergency in the crowd.

Referee Sunny Singh Gill took the players off the field just after 3.30pm as medical staff went to help the supporter.

The match was officially abandoned 30 minutes later.

Bolton said the fan had suffered a suspected cardiac arrest and was taken to hospital.

A club statement read: “A supporter in the East Stand suffered a suspected cardiac arrest around 30 minutes into the game at the Toughsheet Community Stadium.

“The man was treated by medical staff and paramedics at the scene, while the two teams were taken off the pitch.

“Following sustained attempts to revive the patient, he was taken to the first-aid room at the stadium and the match was abandoned shortly after 4pm.

“The supporter was subsequently taken to hospital and the thoughts of everyone at Bolton Wanderers are with him and his family.

“An update on the supporter’s condition will follow.

“Details regarding a new date and ticket refunds/arrangements for the fixture will be released in due course.”

Cheltenham added: “Today’s fixture against Bolton Wanderers has been abandoned due to a medical emergency in the crowd.

“The thoughts of everyone at Cheltenham Town Football Club are with the individual involved and their loved ones at this time.”

The game was still goalless when play was halted. Kyle Dempsey had fired over for Bolton at one end while Cheltenham’s George Lloyd was denied by home goalkeeper Nathan Baxter.

Bolton ended the day still two points off the top of the table after leaders Portsmouth suffered a surprise home defeat, while Cheltenham remained three points from safety.

Portsmouth’s poor form continued as John Mousinho’s league leaders made it one win in six games by slipping to a shock 3-0 defeat at home to Leyton Orient.

A disastrous opening half saw stuttering Pompey conceded all three goals before the break.

Orient could have been ahead inside the first 10 seconds, but Dan Agyei’s shot was deflected for a corner.

They did take the lead after 30 minutes when a one-two between Shaq Forde and Max Sanders saw Forde score easily.

It was 2-0 five minutes later when Jordan Brown stabbed home after a goalmouth scramble.

Pompey had a chance to get back in the game after 40 minutes with a penalty after a foul on Jack Sparkes, but Colby Bishop’s tame effort was easily saved.

Things got worse for Pompey in the last minute of first-half added time when Agyei headed home from a corner.

Orient maintained their dominance in the second half, stifling Pompey’s efforts to get back into the game and came away worthy winners.

Substitute striker Will Keane struck a sweet double as Preston claimed a 2-0 home win against Bristol City.

The former Manchester United forward made a fine impact from the bench with two goals in the space of 23 second-half minutes as the Lilywhites claimed their first league win since Boxing Day.

Victory also saw Ryan Lowe’s side end a worrying run of four defeats in their last five Championship matches having made a flying start to the season.

Defeat for the Robins means they have now not won in their last four matches and last won at Deepdale 13 years ago.

Defender Taylor Gardner-Hickman came close to giving the visitors an early lead but saw his goal-bound shot superbly saved by Preston goalkeeper Freddie Woodman.

Montenegro striker Milutin Osmajic tried his luck from the outside of the box with the hosts’ first chance after 19 minutes, but his right-foot strike flew wide of the left-hand upright.

Irish forward Jason Knight thought he had put Bristol City ahead with a thunderous strike, but Preston shot-stopper Woodman pulled off a fine save to tip his effort over the crossbar.

Defender Rob Dickie also saw a header saved by the home keeper, who found himself too busy for his own liking.

Zak Vyner rifled a fierce right-foot shot wide of the right-hand post as the visitors kept pressing for the opener, before Knight smashed over the bar with another excellent chance.

Albanian forward Anis Mehmeti saw his left-foot shot saved by Woodman, who was having a fine afternoon between the posts.

At the other end, Canadian midfielder Liam Millar was denied by a smart block from Robins keeper Max O’Leary, while midfielder Duane Holmes fired over with an angled drive.

Keane, fellow striker Emil Riis and attacking midfielder Mads Frokjaer-Jensen were introduced to spice things up for Preston.

And it worked as they found a spring in their step and were in front for the first time 20 minutes after the triple substitution.

Keane needed just two minutes for his first chance of the afternoon, O’Leary pulling off a fine block to stop his shot flying into the top corner.

The forward went close again five minutes later, firing wide from close range when he probably should have done better.

Mehmeti shot wide for the visitors and had an effort well-saved by Woodman, before Keane finally made the breakthrough.

His clinical strike from the centre of the goal was too good for O’Leary – and not long afterwards he doubled the home side’s advantage.

Frokjaer-Jensen had a shot saved as the pressure mounted, before Keane fired into the bottom-right corner with a superb left-foot strike for his eighth goal of the season.

Reading’s League One match against Port Vale was abandoned after hundreds of home fans invaded the pitch to protest against the club ownership of Dai Yongge.

The game had already been held up for three minutes early in the first half when tennis balls were thrown on to the playing surface at the Select Car Leasing Stadium.

Then, after 16 minutes, referee Ross Joyce took the players into the dressing rooms when the home fans entered the field of play, some letting off blue flares.

After approaching the Vale fans, some of whom applauded them, most of the home fans started to leave the pitch.

But many of them then returned and staged a sit-in in the centre circle.

Many Reading fans want the owner to sell up following a number of sanctions imposed by the EFL.

A statement posted on Reading’s X account read: “We are fully aware of and understand our supporters’ frustrations, but we must reiterate to our supporters that entering or throwing items on to the pitch can put the fixture at risk of abandonment and can result in personal consequences including banning orders.

“Thank you for your support today.”

As Reading fans continued to stay on the pitch, the club made two announcements over the PA system.

They stated that once the fans had returned to the stands, the game could resume.

As the supporters remained on the pitch, stewards guarded both goalmouths.

The Port Vale fans began to grow tired of the protests, chanting they had “made their point” and should leave the pitch.

A further announcement over the PA system said that, unless the pitch was cleared, the match would be abandoned.

It added that it would go “along with the consequences” of a possible points deduction.

As the game continued to be held up, reaching the half-hour mark, some Reading fans who had remained in the stands began to boo those on the pitch.

It also appeared that some of the stadium floodlights were being turned off, as if in preparation for an abandonment.

Port Vale fans also began to chant: “We want our money back”.

There remained a tight cordon of stewards around the entrance to the players’ tunnel, with the players having remained in the dressing rooms throughout.

Around 300 Reading fans remained on the pitch and at 3.56pm officials from both clubs were in contact with the EFL fixtures management team to discuss “the best course of action”. The game was eventually called off at 4.25pm.

:: Bolton’s League One match against Cheltenham was also abandoned. This was due to a medical emergency in the crowd.

Lyle Taylor scored on his Cambridge debut and Sully Kaikai struck a stoppage-time winner as the U’s beat League One’s bottom side Fleetwood 2-1.

Taylor signed for the club on Friday and found the net 14 minutes after coming off the bench.

Promise Omochere equalised for Fleetwood but Cambridge were not to be denied as Taylor teed-up Kaikai in the first minute of added time.

All of the game’s big chances happened in the closing 20 minutes as a number of substitutes made their mark.

Brandon Njoku, seconds after coming on, produced great work before the ball fell to Taylor to open the scoring with 19 minutes left.

Cambridge were pegged back six minutes later when Jayden Stockley, a one-time U’s loanee, stood a cross up for Omochere to nod home at the back post, only two minutes after he himself had come off the bench.

The home side should have been back ahead seconds after the restart when Taylor pulled the ball back for Jack Lankester, who somehow missed the target from six yards.

Ryan Bennett headed Kaikai’s corner on to a post in the final seconds, before in added time Taylor’s ball across the box was fired into roof of the net by Kaikai for Cambridge’s winner.