Loan Round-Up - 7 April
It was a great weekend for Shane Duffy and Yeovil, whose hopes of avoiding the drop from the Championship were boosted with a vital victory at Blackpool.
The centre-back played the full 90 minutes as the Glovers secured a 2-1 win at Bloomfield Road.
Duffy was in a direct battle with his Blues teammate Apostolos Vellios, who was making his second appearance for the Tangerines since joining on a deal until the end of the season.
It was a duel that the Republic of Ireland international came out on top in, as Vellios was substituted after 50 minutes.
Still, bottom-placed Yeovil are very much embroiled in a relegation scrap, with three points separating them and Charlton Athletic who sit one place above the drop zone. The Addicks, however, have two games in hand, having played 38 compared to Yeovil’s 40.
In League One, there was more positive news for Everton’s loanees as both Matthew Kennedy and Matthew Pennington were involved in victories, for MK Dons and Tranmere respectively, and John Lundstram played his part as Leyton Orient picked up another important point.
Kennedy played 90 minutes as MK Dons kept alive their promotion dream with a 2-1 away win at Coventry City, a result which put Karl Robinson’s team just three points outside the play-offs.
Pennington also got a full run-out in Tranmere’s 2-1 success at Colchester United. The win saw the Birkenhead-based club move out of the relegation zone, albeit on goal difference.
Lundstram last season enjoyed promotion with Doncaster Rovers and he could again sample a similar experience this term with Leyton Orient, who drew 1-1 with Sheffield United on Saturday to guarantee a play-off spot.
Automatic elevation to the Championship, however, is looking unlikely as seven points separate Leyton Orient and their London rivals, Brentford, who are currently positioned in second.
Elsewhere, in League Two, Hallam Hope was unable to make it three goals in three games for Bury.
The striker had netted in the victories over Northampton Town and Bristol Rovers but was not on the scoresheet as the Shakers continued their fine run with a 2-0 win at home to Exeter City. Hope replaced on 63 minutes.
With five matches remaining, Bury are seven points adrift of York City who occupy the final play-off position.
And finally, it was stalemate in Norway where Francisco Junior’s temporary side, Stromsgodset, drew 0-0 with Viking.
Junior was brought off the bench with 13 minutes remaining as both sides cancelled each other out.
