Poor draws for play-off hopefuls

Two Coca-Cola Championship stalemates were of limited use to Preston and Wolves tonight as the play-off hopefuls failed to make significant ground on their rivals.

Sixth-placed Preston stayed put after their 0-0 draw at mid-table Plymouth, while Wolves moved up one spot to seventh despite a missed opportunity in another goalless affair at home to Stoke.

In League One, substitute Alex Rhodes scored the winning goal which took Brentford scooting up from sixth to second in the table.

The Bees’ 2-1 victory at Yeovil came courtesy of an early goal from Isaiah Rankin (12) and Rhodes’ second just before the hour. Terry Skiverton was on the mark in the 26th minute for the hosts.

Tranmere moved clear of the likes of Yeovil in low mid-table thanks to their own 2-1 win, at Swindon.

First-half goals from Chris Greenacre (21) and Sam Aiston (33) did the trick - although striker Jamie Cureton (69) kept the Robins interested.

For much of their match at Chester Torquay looked set to haul themselves off the very bottom of the league – only for the sending-off of forward Lee Thorpe to cost them dear.

The Deva Stadium visitors led via a 22nd-minute goal from Kevin Hill. But down to 10 men from six minutes into the second half, they allowed Chester’s Gregg Blundell to equalise just before the hour mark for a share of the League Two points.

The basement’s other fixture saw Torquay’s fellow strugglers Stockport manage a 1-0 win at Bury thanks to an 85th-minute settler from striker Liam Dickinson which moved the Hatters level on points with their hosts.