Jon Whitney's Walsall may be enjoying a rare international break, but several of the sides in and around the Sky Bet League 1 promotion places were in action as the Football League season continued.
Several of today's games kicked off at 3:00pm, with two televised clashes, Swindon Town v Wigan Athletic and Coventry City v Peterborough United, taking place later in the evening.
Barnsley went into their game with mid-table Scunthorpe United in sixth position, four points behind fifth placed Millwall, and level on points with seventh placed Bradford City.
The match saw both sides create goal-scoring chances but neither were able to beat their opponents 'keeper as the scores remained level, not a great result for either side with games running out.
Relegation threatened Blackpool played host to fifteenth placed Bury, with the Seasiders looking to edge away from the drop zone with several of their opponents also in action.
This match also ended in a draw, as Blackpool striker Danny Philliskirk's seventy-fourth minute penalty was cancelled out by Danny Mayor just a couple of minutes later, another result that does little for either side.
Bottom placed Colchester United went into their match against relegation rivals Doncaster Rovers on the back of a 2-1 defeat to Jon Whitney's Walsall.
Despite a run of form which is going down in club history as the worst for many years, United were able to raise their game and defeat their opponents.
Doncaster led at the break thanks to a goal from debutant Gary McSheffrey, but goals from Chris Porter, Elliott Lee, Alex Gilbey and Richard Brindley sealed victory, lifting them off the foot of the table.
Eleventh placed Rochdale leapfrogged opponents Southend United to climb up to eighth place in the table. Jack Payne had put Southend ahead just before the thirty-minute mark, but goals from Grant Holt, Joe Rafferty, Jamie Allen and Joe Bunney saw Rochdale move to within two points of the play-off places.
Twelfth placed Sheffield United, the side who Walsall will take on next weekend, were also in action as they took on relegation candidates Crewe Alexandra at Bramall Lane.
The match looked to be heading for a two-all draw before Billy Sharp scored a late winner to send Crewe to the bottom of the table.
Che Adams and Ryan Flynn had put the Blades two-nil up before David Fox and Harry Davis levelled the scores. A disappointing result in the end, but a spirited showing from the Railwaymen.
Near Rivals Shrewsbury Town and Port Vale were both in action and played out a one-all draw at Greenhous Meadow. Louis Dodds had given Vale the lead but his side were pegged back by a Sullay Kaikai goal seventeen minutes from full time.
Walsall's promotion rivals Wigan Athletic were also in action as they took on Swindon Town in the first televised game of the day. Swindon were no match for the Latics as they swept their opponents aside, ultimately winning by four-goals-to-one.
A brace from former Saddler Will Grigg was followed up by goals from Max Power and Sam Morsy as the Robins had no answer to the visiting attack.
Nicky Ajose slotted a consolation for Swindon, but the goal will do little to appease their increasingly frustrated supporters as their disappointing campaign continues.
The final match of the day saw Peterborough United play host to Coventry City. The Posh began the day in sixteenth position, ten points below the Play-Off places and eleven points clear of the relegation zone, while the Sky Blues were eighth, just two points below the Play-Off places.
Peterborough took the lead on the stroke of half-time as Michael Bostwick slotted home. Lee Angol doubled the home side's lead just after the hour mark, but City did halve it soon after as Joe Cole struck after sixty-five minutes.
Midfielder Harry Beautyman re-established his sides two-goal lead just four minutes later as Peterborough moved up to fourteenth place, eight point off the Play-Off places.
League leaders Burton Albion will be in action on Saturday afternoon, as they play host to relegation threatened Oldham Athletic.
Midfielder Harry Beautyman re-established his sides two-goal lead just four minutes later as Peterborough moved up to fourteenth place, eight point off the Play-Off places.
League leaders Burton Albion will be in action on Saturday afternoon, as they play host to relegation threatened Oldham Athletic.
