Positive impact

LAST-GASP HERO . . . Carl Winchester celebrates his equaliser

BOSS Steve Robinson believes Carl Winchester's late, late equaliser at Port Vale last night will lift spirits significantly at Athletic, and provide a huge boost as the squad gear up for Saturday's home Sky Bet League One test against Peterborough.

Substitute Winchester struck to make it 2-2 in the fourth minute of stoppage time in a game which saw the visitors dominate for large parts.

The first half belonged to Athletic, who then went on to take the lead three minutes after the restart through star man Ollie Banks.

Vale roared back to go 2-1 in front as more questionable defending let the hosts off the hook, but Winchester pounced for what could be a significant goal in the ongoing battle to escape the third-tier drop zone.

"To be honest I don't know what I would have said to the players in the dressing room had we lost that game," admitted Robinson.

'DUG IN'
"Port Vale had a 10-minute spell that killed us, but other than that credit to our lads, they dug in, Carl gets a great goal and we go away a little bit happier than we would have done otherwise.

"It certainly puts us in a positive mood going into the Peterborough game now, as opposed to again thinking 'what do we have to do to win a game of football here?'

"We've scored two goals and created a lot of chances. It was 17 here at Port Vale and I think 20 at Scunthorpe, so I think we are doing the right things.

"The team are playing well, but we've still got to be careful not to go away from those really good things we're doing.

"As long as we don't go chasing things and keep doing what we're doing, I'm confident the whole thing will turn for us.

"We're definitely not a team playing without confidence. You don't create that many chances if you don't have confident players.

"These boys believe in us, the staff, and they believe in each other as well.

"They're starting to get an understanding of a lot more things and they are creating chances.

"We do need someone to put the ball in the back of the net on a regular basis, I know that, and I also know that that is the difference."

Athletic remain in 22nd place in League One, but there is only two points between them and fifth-bottom Coventry.

In the rest of last night's action, managerless Charlton romped to a 5-1 win at Bristol Rovers to climb into the top half of the table.

CARETAKER

Kevin Nugent was put in caretaker charge of the Addicks following the sacking of Russell Slade on November 13.

Scunthorpe won 2-0 at Peterborough to stay six points clear at the top of the table.

Kevin van Veen headed the visitors in front after 21 minutes, with Neal Bishop getting a late second for the Iron with seven minutes left.

Sheffield United remain second, ahead of Bolton on goal difference, after they secured a dramatic 1-0 win over nine-man Bury with a stoppage-time goal from Ethan Ebanks-Landell

Bury midfielder Jacob Mellis was shown a straight red card at the end of the first half for a foul on Matt Done, while defender Greg Leigh collected a second caution after 85 minutes.

Just when the managerless Shakers looked to have held out for a point, Ebanks-Landell scored from close range to inflict defeat on his former club.

Bolton kept the pressure up in the promotion hunt with a 1-0 home win over Coventry following an 11th-mintue goal by Zach Clough.

A goal from James Hanson after 56 minutes was enough to give fourth-placed Bradford a 1-0 home win over Northampton.

Steven Davies scored twice, including a stoppage-time penalty, as Rochdale beat Walsall 4-0 at Spotland to move above Peterborough into fifth.

Play-off hopefuls AFC Wimbledon saw defender Jon Meades dismissed with 15 minutes remaining as they were held to a goalless draw at Millwall.

Dan Gardner scored a late goal as Chesterfield moved off the bottom with a 3-2 win at managerless MK Dons.

Fleetwood closed up on the top six after a 3-0 home win over Shrewsbury, who dropped to the foot of the table, Swindon came from behind to draw 1-1 at Southend and Oxford beat Gillingham 1-0.