League One reaction: round-up of the weekend's games

One ex-U's boss has started the season especially well, while there was plenty of controversy across the division.

Lincoln City 2, Charlton Athletic 0

Former Oxford United boss Michael Appleton guided Lincoln City to a third win from three league games against Charlton Athletic.

But the Imps' victory was not without controversy, with Jorge Grant opening the scoring in first-half stoppage time despite looking clearly offside.

After the Banbury-born midfielder's penalty was saved by Ben Amos, the ball fell to Harry Anderson and he squared to Grant, who finished into an empty net.

Michael Appleton's Lincoln City have started the season with three wins Picture: James Williamson

Appleton, whose side sit second in the table, said: “We got away with one, but it was definitely a penalty.

"It looked like Jorge was slightly offside, but we’ll take it. Some go for us and some will go against us.

“There were a few big decisions that went against us, especially in that second half, but we reacted properly and we didn’t let it affect us too much.”

Doncaster Rovers 4, Bristol Rovers 1

BEN Garner blamed referee Trevor Kettle for Bristol Rovers' heavy defeat at Doncaster Rovers.

The visiting manager was convinced the two free-kicks which led to Doncaster’s opening two goals were wrong decisions from the Rutland official.

“Decisions are killing us,” said Garner, whose side prop up the table.

“We had one against Sunderland and the first two goals in this match should not have been free kicks against us.

“I’m sick to death of these decisions going against us. They are giving us mountains to climb in each game.

“People look at results and don’t realise how much that affects games. When key decisions go against you, it puts you at a huge disadvantage."

But Doncaster boss Darren Moore felt the margin of victory should have been even wider.

He said: “My message to the players was, while I’m delighted with the three points, we could have been ruthless when we got in the opposition area.

“It’s something for us to look at as we move forward."

Matty Taylor: Oxford United bus mishap transported me back to non-league days

Portsmouth 1, Wigan Athletic 2

Tom James scored a stunning free-kick to heap more pressure on under-fire Portsmouth boss Kenny Jackett.

The full-back's 30-yard strike put Wigan Athletic 2-0 up just before the hour mark, with Ellis Harrison's consolation goal one minute from time the hosts' first chance of note.

The defeat left Portsmouth 21st in the table, with just two points from three games, leaving Jackett cursing his side's inability to turn possession into goals.

He said: “We started the game pretty well and played some good football for the first 20 or 30 minutes. Their goal knocked us in terms of our momentum going forward.

“But we built up a head of steam in the second half. We put a lot of balls into the box and into good areas, but we couldn’t convert that into the goals we needed to get us the win.

“We are disappointed with the start but we have to keep going, have to keep working away."

Portsmouth manager Kenny Jackett Picture: David Fleming

Sunderland 1, Peterborough United 0

Darren Ferguson was left furious as Sunderland beat Peterborough United courtesy of Grant Leadbitter's late penalty.

The veteran struck nine minutes from time after referee Scott Oldham judged that Jack Taylor fouled Denver Hume.

It condemned Peterborough to their second defeat of the season, while Sunderland remain unbeaten.

Posh boss Ferguson told the club's official website: “It was a tight game – we thought it would be. The referee decided to change that.

“I have just watched it back. It’s a disgraceful decision. It’s a foul on Jack.

"All the players are fuming. When (I saw it) live, I wasn’t sure. It was an unbelievably bad decision."

Karl Robinson: Long week paid off for Oxford United

Ipswich Town 2, Rochdale 0

Ipswich Town fully merit their place at the top of the table, according to boss Paul Lambert.

Second-half goals from Teddy Bishop and Gwion Edwards saw off Rochdale and maintained The Tractor Boys' 100 per cent start, while they are yet to concede a goal.

Lambert said: “All credit to our guys. They played some fantastic pieces of play.

"The football was great, the off-the-ball running was great.

“We were patient. I thought we recycled the ball well from side to side and I’m really happy with it all and the patience and the way we’re playing is really pleasing."

Teddy Bishop celebrates scoring Ipswich Town's opener against Rochdale Picture: Adam Davy/PA Wire

Swindon Town 4, Burton Albion 2

Brett Pitman opened his Swindon Town account in a comfortable win over Burton Albion.

The former Portsmouth striker scored the hosts' second goal as they raced into a 3-0 lead after 35 minutes.

Victory never looked in doubt after that, but Robins boss Richie Wellens felt his side were not at their best.

He said: “I don’t think we played absolutely brilliantly.

“But I think in the first half an hour when we switched the ball and got our wide players in, we got our pressing right and scored two or three goals from pressing really high up, we got the timing spot on in the first half an hour."

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Crewe Alexandra 2, MK Dons 0

MK Dons' performance at Crewe was their 'worst of the season', bemoaned a frustrated Russell Martin.

The visitors are still yet to win in the league, while their opponents - who visit Oxford United on Saturday - picked up their first points of the campaign.

Dons boss Martin said: “That was our worst performance of the season. We started well enough but after Crewe scored we weren’t very good for the rest of the first half.

“We were better in the second half but we still couldn’t create too much. We let ourselves down and we’re better than that."

Northampton Town 0, Hull City 2

Grant McCann saluted Hull City's bravery as his side claimed a third win from three at Northampton Town.

The Tigers barely got out of second gear in a bitty and disjointed contest at Sixfields but two first-half goals were enough for victory.

“I think the game was everything we thought it would be,” said manager Grant McCann. “They play in a certain way and have a certain style and they like to get the ball forward very quickly.

“They fling things into your box from throw-ins and corners and you’ve got to stand up and be counted and I thought – to a man – we showed real bravery today."

Hull City fans watch their win over Northampton Town at Sixfields Picture: Zac Goodwin/PA Wire 

Gillingham 2, Blackpool 0

Steve Evans was delighted to see his hard work in luring Dominic Samuel to Gillingham pay off as the striker's double downed Blackpool.

The new signing scored early in each half as he began his second spell at the club with a bang.

“Dominic will always score goals,” Evans said.

“I think I’ve spoken to him more in the last three months more than I have with my wife. He made the deal happen. Both are strikers’ goals.”

Fleetwood Town 0, AFC Wimbledon 1

Steve Seddon sealed a surprise three points for AFC Wimbledon at Fleetwood Town as he marked his return to the club in style.

The new recruit from Birmingham, back for a second loan spell with the Dons, scored five minutes before half-time to continue his side's unbeaten start.

Wimbledon manager Glyn Hodges was thrilled with the 22-year-old's display as he celebrated a hard-fought triumph.

“Seddon has grabbed the headlines again, we know what he has to offer and he’s scored a great goal,” said Hodges.

“The build-up and the way we executed it was worthy of winning any game.

“He’s done so well, as has everybody else, and it’s sending us home in a buoyant mood.

“We sometimes have to grind wins out, improve and look at what we need to do to get three points, which are like gold dust.

"We’ve found a way to do that today and we’ll try our hardest to do it next week as well."

AFC Wimbledon boss Glyn Hodges Picture: David Fleming

Plymouth Argyle 1, Shrewsbury Town 1

Newly-promoted Plymouth Argyle continued their unbeaten start to the season as they held Shrewsbury Town to a 1-1 draw.

Josh Vela opened the scoring for the visitors, who were well on top in the early exchanges.

But Conor Grant’s superb curling 29th-minute strike brought Argyle level and boss Ryan Lowe was pleased with his side's character.

“I always want to take three points from every game we play and I’d love to be here on nine points after three games but to get another point and stay unbeaten, we’re happy,” he said.

“For the first 20 minutes or so Shrewsbury were dominant. But we knew they were going to start on the front foot.

“We knew we had to get a foothold in the game and so we changed formation a little bit and as soon as we did that, dropped a midfielder in there, we were OK."