Burton prove promotion credentials with win over Coventry

The home side were undone by fine margins and gifted Calum Butcher a 49th-minute goal. Young full-back Aaron Phillips tried to chest the ball back to his goalkeeper, but only diverted it into Butcher's path and he finished.

Burton goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin twice denied teenager James Maddison before Stuart Bevan's 73rd-minute goal sealed victory.

Walsall remain right on Burton's coat-tails after also winning.

The Saddlers were coasting to victory at Bury with Chris Hussey's own goal and further strikes from Tom Bradshaw and Anthony Forde put them in the driving seat at half-time. However, Leon Clarke netted twice in as many minutes to make it an uncomfortable final 25 minutes for the visitors, but they held on for a 3-2 victory.

Gillingham lost ground in the race for automatic promotion as they drew 2-2 at Doncaster.

A pre-match power cut threatened to postpone the game, but it went ahead and the visitors made an electric start through Rory Donnelly's 10th-minute opener. The 23-year-old forward scored again early in the second half, but Doncaster pulled one back courtesy of Cameron Stewart's free-kick and Andy Williams equalised with two minutes remaining.

Wigan continued to narrow the gap on those above them by scoring three goals for the third home game in a row as Chesterfield lost for the first time under Danny Wilson.

The Latics were out of sight in the first half as Max Power, Reece James and Michael Jacobs all got on the score sheet. Ollie Banks bagged a goal for the Spireites 11 minutes from time.

Peterborough's goalless home draw with Southend, whose goalkeeper Daniel Bentley saved a Chris Forrester penalty at the death, let Sheffield United move within a point of the play-off places.

Chris Basham's injury-time header gave the Blades a 2-1 win at Colchester. Billy Sharp put the visitors in front before Tom Eastman headed the hosts level.

Bradford are up to 10th place and four points off sixth-placed Posh with two games in hand after Tony McMahon's header gave them a 1-0 home win over Oldham, who had Connor Brown sent off shortly before half-time in John Sheridan's first game back as manager.

Crewe stay bottom after squandering a two-goal lead to lose 4-3 at Swindon.

Nicky Ajose put the hosts ahead, but Brad Inman scored either side of a Ryan Colclough strike as Alex led at the break.

However, Jonathan Obika's strike, a Ben Nugent own goal and another Ajose effort in injury-time consigned Crewe to defeat.

Shrewsbury complete the bottom four after Barnsley did their own relegation worries the world of good with a 3-0 away win. Sam Winnall with two and Alfie Mawson were on target for the Tykes, while the hosts missed a penalty, Adam Davies saving Andy Mangan's spot-kick.

Blackpool roared out of the drop zone with a 5-0 home victory against Scunthorpe. Tom Aldred, a Brad Potts double, David Norris and Danny Philliskirk scored the goals.