League One has a new leader in Colchester United who are now favourites at 4/1. The U's maintained their fine home form at odds of 4/6 but needed two goals from Richard Garcia to cancel out a Michael Husbands penalty for Port Vale.

Swansea City were fully expected, at 8/13 to beat Hartlepool United who are facing a realistic threat of relegation this season. Ironically, Welshman Eifion Williams netted a 90 minute equaliser for Hartlepool and Swansea are now second favourites to win the division at 9/2.

Southend United were also guilty of underachieving against more lowly opposition. The Shrimpers were 8/5 favourites to win away at mid-table Tranmere but could only manage a goalless draw, a result which extended their unbeaten run to 10 matches.

Two other promotion hopefuls, Brentford and Huddersfield Town, met at Griffin Park. The Bees, at 6/5 favourites, didn't disappoint the home crowd with a 2-0 win.

Odds-on Barnsley were 8/13 good things against bottom club Milton Keynes Dons and two late goals kept the Tykes in the play-off mix.

Underachieving Nottingham Forest saw their play-off hopes dented even further with a 1-1 draw at bottom-t

hree club Rotherham United.

Draw specialists Chesterfield made a mockery of generous draw odds of 12/5 when they chalked up their eleventh stalemate of the season, 2-2 against Walsall.

Swindon Town gave their survival chances a boost with a remarkable 4-2 win against Bournemouth. Both sides could be backed at 6/4 before kick-off, but it was the home side that conquered, with the Robins now just one point from safety.

A 1-1 draw did neither Bristol City nor Blackpool any favours in their battle against relegation. Punters savvy enough to realise matches involving two struggling teams tend to end all square could have backed the draw at odds of 9/4.

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