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League One round-up: Luton suffer promotion blow

Luton suffer promotion blow as Barnsley stay second with win. Sunderland and Portsmouth draw at Stadium of Light.

Image: Luton missed the chance to secure promotion

Luton's hopes of sealing automatic promotion to the Sky Bet Championship took a knock as Burton came from behind to beat them 2-1.

Mick Harford's long-time League One leaders were on the brink of guaranteeing themselves a top-two finish when James Collins scored after half an hour at the Pirelli Stadium.

However, Lukas Akins levelled for Burton in the 62nd minute and when the same player got a second 11 minutes from time the turnaround was complete.

Second-placed Barnsley took advantage, coming from behind to beat Blackpool 2-1 at Oakwell.

Harry Pritchard gave the Tangerines a 15th-minute lead but Cauley Woodrow and Liam Lindsay sealed a comeback which leaves the Tykes level on points with Luton.

Sunderland look likely to have to settle for the playoffs after drawing 1-1 with Portsmouth at the Stadium of Light.

The hosts were given the ideal start when Tom Flanagan headed in a ninth-minute opener but Jamal Lowe levelled 15 minutes later for Pompey, who will improve their chances of automatic promotion with victory over Peterborough on Tuesday.

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At the other end, Accrington, Rochdale and Bristol Rovers all secured their League One places for another season, while Walsall and AFC Wimbledon improved their survival prospects.

Accrington defeated fellow strugglers Plymouth 5-1. After Billy Kee had opened the scoring from the penalty spot, Shaun McConville scored a 15-minute hat-trick either side of half-time, netting in the 36th, 43rd and 51st minutes.

Luke Armstrong added a fifth before Harvey Rodgers' last-minute own goal took away the hosts' clean sheet - but Plymouth are in danger of the drop after a fifth successive defeat.

Walsall, with just one point from their previous eight games, picked up a 3-0 win which dents the playoff hopes of Peterborough.

Andy Cook gave the hosts the lead in first-half stoppage time before Daniel Lafferty's 57th-minute own goal doubled the advantage. Josh Gordon completed the scoring 16 minutes from time.

Joe Pigott missed an early penalty for AFC Wimbledon but netted in the 38th and 53rd minutes to seal a 2-1 win over fellow relegation battlers Wycombe, who had equalised through Alex Samuel.

Dean Henderson's second-half goal was all that separated Rochdale and Southend at Spotland, leaving the visitors still fighting for safety.

Joe Aribo and Josh Cullen got Charlton's goals in the 2-0 win over Gillingham, while Fleetwood and Bristol Rovers finished goalless as the Pirates guaranteed their safety.

Scunthorpe are in deep trouble after a 3-2 home loss to relegated Bradford. Billy Clarke, Jermaine Anderson and Eoin Doyle had the visitors in control inside the first 15 minutes, before Kyle Wootton and Lee Novak replied after the break.

Nico Jones' own goal earned Doncaster a draw at Oxford, who had led through goals from Marcus Browne and James Henry. John Marquis gave the visitors an early lead.

Coventry face Shrewsbury on Sunday.

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