Jack Wilshere, the former Arsenal and England midfielder, is reportedly close to taking over as the Luton manager. The 33-year-old has emerged as first choice to replace Matt Bloomfield, who was sacked this week, after holding talks with the club’s board at Kenilworth Road.
Wilshere filled in at Norwich at the end of last season where he took charge for the final two games after Johannes Hoff Thorup’s sacking, but did not get the job permanently. He was also in the frame at Plymouth before Tom Cleverley was hired as manager.
After back-to-back relegations, Luton’s slump has continued to alarm after they started the campaign with five defeats from their first 11 games in League One. Their fixture on Saturday was postponed due to international call-ups.
Rotherham remain in the League One relegation zone despite a late winner to defeat Northampton 2-1. Sam Hoskins put Northampton ahead with a 26th-minute penalty – his 100th goal for the club, but Joe Rafferty equalised before a late free-kick from Josh Benson secured the points.
Josh Benson scores with a free kick for Rotherham. Photograph: Michael Zemanek/Shutterstock
Leyton Orient secured an emphatic 4-0 win at home to Doncaster. Dominic Ballard claimed the opener early on before Aaron Connolly doubled the lead with a curling strike from outside the area. Ballard got his second shortly after the break and completed his hat-trick in the 72nd minute.
Sam Bell’s goal in the 35th minute helped Wycombe beat Wigan 1-0, while Burton won 3-0 at home to Bolton courtesy of two goals from Jake Beesley, one of them from the spot, and a late goal from Fábio Tavares. In their first game since sacking Steve Bruce, Blackpool lost at Stockport after a Joseph Olowu winner,.
AFC Wimbledon thought they had their fifth league win in a row but Devante Cole equalised in the 86th minute to earn Port Vale a 1-1 draw and Jack Marriott scored in his fifth successive league game for Reading in a 1-1 draw at Exeter. There was lengthy added time at St James Park, which the Reading website said was caused by “a long stoppage due to reports of discriminatory chanting”.
In League Two, leaders Walsall drew 1-1 with Crawley. Harry McKirdy’s penalty was saved early on which allowed Crawley to take the lead through Ryan Loft in the 32nd minute, before Walsall equalised through Connor Barrett in the 53rd minute.
Colchester made it back-to-back league wins with a 2-1 win at Grimsby. Kieran Green got the opener for Grimsby before Micah Mbick equalised in the 38th minute and got his second on the hour to win it for Colchester.
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A 78th-minute winner from Ryan Graydon helped Fleetwood beat Harrogate 3-2, with the Yorkshire side having led twice, while Bromley secured a first win in five, 1-0 away to Crewe thanks to Michael Cheek’s goal. Newport left their spot at the bottom of the league after beating Accrington 1-0 thanks to an Isaac Sinclair own goal, with Cheltenham now bottom after a 1-1 draw at Gillingham.
Micah Mbick celebrates after scoring for Colchester. Photograph: Mark Kerton/Shutterstock
An Oliver Turton own goal and a late Ronan Darcy finish gave Chesterfield a 2-0 win against Salford, lifting them up to sixth, while MK Dons have won three times on the bounce, this time scoring four against Bristol Rovers without reply.
Shrewsbury won for the first time in four after a 2-0 victory at home to Cambridge. Tranmere remain winless in the league since August after Barnet came away 2-0 winners, with Lee Ndlovu and Adam Senior on target for the visitors. And Oldham are now without a win in three after a goalless draw with Barrow at Boundary Park.
