Scunthorpe and Blackpool relegated – who will join them?

The relegation battle was narrowed to just Oxford and Cardiff today as United beat Scunthorpe 2-0 thanks to a 26th minute goal from Matt Murphy and another solo strike in the 70th minute from Paul Powell. This defeat condemned Scunny to the Third Division after just one season in Division Two following promotion last season, and Blackpool joined them after they failed to beat Oldham at Boundary Park. Despite leading through a 63rd minute Clarke Carlisle strike Blackpool conceded a 90th minute equaliser, converted by Ryan Sugden. Oxford are now four points ahead of Cardiff, who have two games in hand, travelling to Stoke tomorrow and then Gillingham on Tuesday.

Oxford were missing Mark Watson and Paul Tait from the Easter weekend games, both failing late fitness tests. Watson was replaced by Phil Whelan and Simon Weatherstone came in for Tait. With fifteen minutes remaining Weatherstone was substituted for Nigel Jemson and with a couple of minutes to go Joey Beauchamp replaced Player of the Season Powell for his first appearance since getting an injury against Reading on March 7th. Matt Murphy was booked for retaliating to a Nathan Stanton foul (Stanton also received a yellow card). The crowd of 6,752 was vocal throughout and they call all read this match report to relive those important moments.

United's last opponents of the season, Millwall, lost 3-2 at Preson after being 3-0 down at half-time (Paul Moody was booked). The good news is that Gillingham, who beat Brentford 2-0, are still in with a shout of automatic promotion and so need to beat Cardiff, and Stoke also need a win to keep them in with a chance of the play-offs. Bristol Rovers will also need to win their last game, at Cardiff, for their automatic promotion hopes to be realised, as they could only draw 2-2 at home to Bournemouth. The bad news is that Millwall will also be looking for a win when they play Oxford next Saturday in order to ensure their play-off berth.

Lundin's going home

Oxford's Swedish goalkeeper Pål Lundin has been told that he can return home with immediate effect by United manager Denis Smith. Apparently Lundin asked Smith for clarification of his status as the giant 'keeper is one of the eleven players out of contract this Summer, and Smith confirmed that Lundin doesn't figure in United's plans for next season. Oxford had Andre Arendse on the bench this afternoon and many supporters will be hoping that the club will sign loanee Richard Knight on a free transfer from Derby. Rage Online would like to wish Pål well for the future and we hope that he gets his future sorted soon.

Magic goal

Jim Magilton scored the opening goal for Ipswich as they beat Charlton 3-1 at the Valley to keep alive their hopes of automatic promotion. Matthew Taylor scored Luton's 87th minute winner at Wycombe.

Transfer speculation

Speaking about the story that Joey Beauchamp might be joining Reading, Biscuitmen boss Alan Pardew said “Joey has got great quality and will be available for free under the Bosman ruling”.
Rumours linking Dean Windass with Leicester City were denied by Leicester boss Martin O'Neill, who declared: “I can state categorically that I am not interested. I want to put this story down as strongly as I can. There is nothing in it and I don't know where people get their information from”.

Youth lose

Oxford United's Youth Alliance side lost 4-2 at home to their Northampton counterparts this morning.