Callum Lang scored a sensational four goals Portesmouth it was done behind the back to whip Coventry 4-1 at Fratton Park, giving Frank Lampard, the visiting manager, a further reminder of how tough the second tier division can be.
Norman Bassette had given Coventry the lead inside 150 seconds, but Lang – who had not scored a professional trick before – brought them round with a magnificent individual performance. It added some weight to Pompeian’s hope of salvation – it started the day in the drop zone – and gave them a fourth home win without defeat.
Josh Windass and Callum Paterson fired the X-Man Sheffield Wednesday a hard fought 2-0 victory Stoke at Hillsborough. Quarterback Di’Shon Bernard was fired in the first half, but the hosts rallied to score three impressive points in the second.
Bernard could see first the red for slowing down his man, who was at the end, but he only took the book. The defender did not go unpunished again when he was sent off for a foul on Louis Koumas in the 41st minute and went down a man at half-time on Wednesday.
The Army took the lead in the 52nd minute when Yan Valery played the ball across the box for Windass to steal the ball over the line. James Beadle made a terrific point blank save to deny Tom Cannon from a header, with the goalkeeper also cracking the ball wide of goal at the second attempt.
The Howlers then doubled their advantage on 76 minutes after some nimble work from Shea Charles down the right, with a square ball crossed for substitute Paterson to thunder home. The Potters were awarded a penalty with just under 10 minutes remaining, but Beadle made a brilliant dive to his left to keep out Cannon’s kick.
Cicero Burstow earned an 80th-minute strike Hull a 2-1 win at home Swanseaending a 13-match winless run. With his side bottom of the table at the start of the day, substitute Burstow brilliantly stopped the rot with a deflected low shot from outside the penalty area.
Rubén Selles had to make his first chances as Hull’s new manager impressed when João Pedro scored after 34 minutes. But his side’s inability to keep a clean sheet was exposed again when desperate defending allowed Harry Darling to equalize with a sharp header after eight minutes.
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Swansea – with just one defeat in their previous five games – looked to have done enough to claim a point. But they were punished by allowing Burstow time and space, who gave the rest as Hull got their fourth home of the calendar year.