League One (England)

About 200 supporters protested loudly yet peacefully, calling for the removal of club owner Dai Yongge for 40 minutes after a losing start to life in the third tier.

The Royals, who are under another transfer embargo, were beaten by a 43rd-minute strike from Posh skipper Ephron Mason-Clark.

“The situation at the club is very complex and has been very challenging,” new boss Selles said.

“With relegation last season and the challenge that we had in the summer (with the transfer embargo), I understand that the fans are disappointed.

“The fans have been living with the club in their hearts for their entire life. What we need to do now is do things for them to be proud of us.”

Of the game, Selles said: “We don’t like the defeat, we don’t like that feeling.

“But I think that we showed today that we are a good team. We showed that we can perform.

“We need to use this game as a booster to help us to form an identity that we want to find.

“We knew it was going to be difficult but we had some good moments in the game.

“We knew what to do in the first 30 or 35 minutes, we were very intense and knew what to do in possession and also in transition.

“After conceding the goal, we went into self-protective mode a bit too much. But we erased that in the second half.”

Peterborough manager Darren Ferguson saw room for improvement from his side’s performance.

“It’s a pleasing result for us and a clean sheet as well,” he said.

“I was happy with elements of the performance.

“I didn’t think that we started the game well, we were a bit frantic and looked a bit nervous.

“But after the goal, I thought that we got more control and confidence.

“In the end, though, we had to dig out the result as Reading were putting a lot of balls into our box.

“The way the game is now, in terms of all the injury time, it can get the home crowd up.

“But we blocked a lot of things and I think that the players will really come on from that.

“It needs a lot of elements to win a game of football and toughing it out is one of them.”

Orient had led on three occasions only for the Cobblers to level but they had no answer to Sotiriou’s late strike deep into added time.

Ollie O’Neill notched his first goal since his January transfer from Fulham on 35 minutes only for Marc Leonard to restore parity in first-half added time.

In contrast to the first period, the second half proved a thriller.

Shaq Forde found the net on 58 minutes to restore the hosts’ advantage before Kieron Bowie equalised on 77 minutes in what had become an end-to-end encounter.

The introduction of leading scorer Sotiriou proved a master stroke. Within five minutes he had netted to record his 10th goal of the campaign but substitute Tyreece Simpson replied three minutes later.

But Sotiriou had the last word in the seventh and final minute of added time when the visitors failed to clear a corner and the Os man drove the ball powerfully into the net to settle the issue.

The Londoners gained a double over the Cumbrians on their way to the fourth-tier title last season.

And thanks to Sotiriou’s 21st-minute strike, assisted by Joe Pigott’s through-ball, Richie Wellens’ side again left with maximum spoils.

Orient, with just one defeat in seven games in all competitions, will feel the margin of victory should have been wider.

Idris El Mizouni hit the crossbar while Tomas Holy saved from Dan Happe and Sotiriou before the latter finally rolled his shot beyond the giant keeper.

Carlisle earned the wrath of boss Paul Simpson for a “horrible” performance in a midweek EFL Trophy defeat to Nottingham Forest and he reverted to the side that won at Bolton last weekend thanks to Jordan Gibson’s hat-trick.

However, Carlisle only came to life after half-time and even then, El Mizouni should have doubled the visitors’ advantage after 63 minutes.

Home substitute Terry Ablade hit an upright in a nervy finish but the Londoners held on.

Orient started well, with Omar Beckles striking the crossbar inside the first seven minutes and then Sotiriou side-footed wide from six yards when an Exeter clearance fell right at his feet.

Idris El Mizouni forced Grecians keeper Gary Woods into a smart save as Exeter, missing several players through injury and international duty, failed to assert themselves.

However, the home side broke the deadlock in spectacular fashion in the 49th minute when 16-year-old debutant Jake Richards lobbed the ball forwards and Demi Mitchell allowed it to bounce before lashing a stunning 20-yard half volley over the head of Sol Bryan which went in off the underside of the crossbar.

Orient  levelled six minutes later, though, as Joe Pigott was allowed to chest down a cross and fire a shot into the bottom corner from 10 yards.

Os defender Brandon Cooper forced Woods into a flying save with a shot from 20 yards, while Mitchell headed a good chance wide for Exeter.

But, Orient won it two minutes into stoppage time when Sotiriou was afforded too much space 25 yards out and his low shot flew past Woods into the bottom corner.

The Shrews skipper pounced in the 50th minute after Luke Southwood had to dive at full stretch to parry Ben Williams’ header towards his own goal following Jordan Shipley’s cross.

Bowman had shot wide a minute earlier after a long clearance from Marko Marosi caught out the away defence.

Three Cheltenham staff, including director of football Micky Moore, left for Shrewsbury this summer, meaning there was an extra edge building up to the opening-day clash, but the game did not come to life until late in the first period.

Daniel Udoh turned a low ball in from Shipley over for Shrewsbury and at the other end after Liam Sercombe’s shot was saved, Rob Street nearly netted against his former loan club but Morgan Feeney’s fine challenge denied him.

After Bowman’s goal, Udoh – back from a 12-month ACL injury absence – forced Southwood into a block at his near post in the 75th minute as Shrewsbury nearly made it 2-0, but they had done enough.

The Brentford loanee fired home from the edge of the box to settle a tight clash at the Pirelli Stadium.

John Brayford almost gave Albion the perfect start, his poked effort rattling the Exeter crossbar inside 90 seconds as Tom Hamer’s long throw threatened to catch the visitors cold.

Max Crocombe produced excellent saves to deny Demetri Mitchell and Reece Cole as Exeter settled but a goalless first half was largely due to Viljami Sinisalo’s crucial save to deny Josh Gordon on the stroke of half-time.

Trevitt was denied by the outstretched leg of Crocombe early in the second half as Exeter threatened and Sinisalo had to produce another good save to deny Albion substitute Steve Seddon.

After Trevitt’s 75th-minute goal, Albion’s afternoon got worse deep into stoppage time when Seddon saw red for a second yellow card as Burton pushed for an equaliser.

The only goal of a largely uninspiring game arrived in the 88th minute after a ball over the top of the home defence from Sam Sherring left Hoskins with only Luke Southwood to beat.

He finished confidently for his third of the season and Cheltenham rarely troubled Max Thompson in the Cobblers goal.

The Robins are yet to score in six league and cup games this season, leaving them bottom of the early League One table.

Will Ferry sent a shot over the bar for the home side in the third minute, but Northampton went on to control much of the opening period.

Patrick Brough smashed ab effort wide in the 17th minute and Kieron Bowie was off target after good work from Louis Appere in the 23rd minute.

Sherring then saw a header hit the bar following a Marc Leonard corner five minutes later.

Elliot Bonds curled an effort over the bar in the 61st minute and Luciano D’Auria-Henry’s header was kicked away by Sherring in the six-yard box as Cheltenham showed an improvement, but Hoskins had the final say as Northampton made it seven points from their last three games as they adjust to life at the higher level.

Jordan Rhodes headed in his 11th goal of the season to cancel out Kieron Bowie’s opener, but the Seasiders failed to back up Saturday’s stunning win at Portsmouth.

Northampton’s Marc Leonard came close in the opening stages when he shot from range and forced Dan Grimshaw to tip behind.

The hosts strung together a good move that ended with Jake Beesley playing in Karamoko Dembele, who was stopped in his tracks by Leonard’s well-timed tackle.

Blackpool’s front two of Beesley and Rhodes both had sights of goal, but could only hit straight at Max Thompson.

Bowie put Northampton ahead 30 minutes in, cooly slotting past Grimshaw and into the corner.

Rhodes put Blackpool back on level terms on 65 minutes when he glanced Kenny Dougall’s cross beyond the reach of Thompson.

Blackpool pushed for a winner but they were caught out as Hoskins intercepted James Husband’s back pass before tucking it away.

Carlisle goalkeeper Jokull Andresson was sent off in the 29th minute after handling outside his area and Wycombe took full advantage.

The visitors defended well before Gareth McCleary won a penalty just before half-time, which Leahy converted to give Wycombe a half-time lead.

Vokes missed a fine chance to put Wycombe 2-0 up shortly after half-time with a header from close range that went over the bar before being denied by substitute keeper Tomas Holy inside the box.

Carlisle had chances of their own, Joe Garner blazing over when well-placed and Sam Lavelle heading narrowly wide from a corner.

However, Vokes sealed the points 16 minutes from time, rolling his marker and sliding the ball into the bottom-right corner from 20 yards, with Wycombe moving up to ninth in the table and Carlisle just a point above the bottom four.

The Chairboys moved themselves up to seventh in the table, as their impressive response to opening their league campaign with a pair of 3-0 losses continued.

Wycombe took the lead in the 13th minute when Vokes met a terrific cross by Kane Vincent-Young, and although his header was brilliantly saved by Daniel Grimshaw, he was on hand to knock in the rebound.

The Chairboys were controlling proceedings and went 2-0 up in the first minute of the second half as Brandon Hanlan cushioned a volley past Grimshaw at the back post from Garath McCleary’s cross.

Blackpool pushed for a way back into the game in the closing stages and Max Stryjek was required to produce a very good save to push away Olly Casey’s flick.

Seven minutes from time, Stryjek once again denied the Seasiders as he athletically pushed away Sonny Carey’s half-volley from just outside the area.

The visitors, who began the match as league leaders, had no answer to a determined home side who scored through Shaq Forde after 29 minutes and Theo Archibald in the 57th minute.

It was a memorable first league start for striker Forde, signed on a season-long loan from Watford.  The 19 year-old was on hand to turn a deflection into the net following a Jordan Graham shot .

The O’s nearly doubled their advantage two minutes later when winger Archibald, a persistent menace to the U’s throughout the afternoon, rattled the crossbar with a thunderous shot from outside the box.

The visitors posed little threat, although O’s keeper Sol Brynn was forced into a save when Sullay Kaikai broke free just after the interval.

Archibald was rewarded for his influential performance when he gathered a pass from Tom James and drove the ball past Jack Stevens from 15 yards.

Full of confidence, the O’s continued to play purposefully to complete a convincing victory.

Orient led early through Rob Hunt but Sam Hoskins scored twice in three minutes to turn things around, only for Kieron Bowie to see red before Forde’s dramatic leveller.

The home side started well but Orient weathered the storm before breaking the deadlock with their first shot on 14 minutes when a patient move ended with Hunt collecting Ruel Sotiriou’s pass and firing in his first goal for the club.

Lee Burge reacted well to prevent Idris El Mizouni from doubling the lead but everything turned around in the space of three minutes at the start of the second half.

Hoskins first equalised, latching onto Shaun McWilliams’ pass and beating Sol Brynn via a deflection, before he converted from the spot after Akin Odimayo was taken down in the box.

Bowie then saw red for an apparent headbutt and Orient should have been level within minutes but Sotiriou somehow headed wide from underneath the crossbar.

Burge tipped over Sotiriou’s rasping volley but Orient’s pressure finally told deep into stoppage time as Forde converted Jordan Graham’s cross.

The visitors have now won just once in 13 games and sit 10 points adrift of safety with 16 games remaining.

However, the Cumbrians stunned their hosts when, against the run of play, they went ahead after 21 minutes when an intended clearance by Omar Beckles struck Josh Vela and cannoned into the net.

But Shaqai Forde turned things around for the Os with two late first-half goals.

Forde received a sublime pass from George Moncur after 40 minutes and drilled his shot wide of goalkeeper Harry Lewis from the edge of the box.

He followed four minutes into first-half stoppage-time when Jordan Brown flicked on a Theo Archibald corner and Forde nodded into the net from close range for his eighth goal of the campaign.

The outcome was sealed  in the 57th minutes when Archibald made a quick break out of defence and slipped in Ruel Sotiriou to score.

Sean Maguire scored a late consolation for Carlisle with a penalty deep into added time as their chances of keeping their League One status took another hit.

Devante Cole opened the scoring for the Tykes before Jonny Smith curled in an equaliser late on.

Maloney said: “I really liked how we played. We changed our style today because of how good Barnsley are when they press you high.

“It’s one of those games where you go in 1-0 (down) at half-time and there wasn’t actually anything wrong with the game.

“With the chances we created, we shouldn’t be going in 1-0 behind.

“The least we deserved today was a draw, I’m really happy with the performance.”

On his side’s reaction to going behind, Maloney said: “We didn’t really need to change much, we didn’t need to react, we didn’t need to make anything tactically different.

“I was just really pleased with the first half, we just had to be a little bit more aggressive in certain positions.

“We didn’t need to change anything at half-time, we created three or four chances that on another day we should score.”

On Smith’s goal, Maloney said: “Jonny’s deserved it, he’s had to be patient for a couple of months. He had a really difficult injury at the start of the season. He’s got that talent.

“We’ve got good players; we’ve got a good squad. I know it’s a little bit inconsistent at times. Maybe a little bit too inconsistent, but we’ve got a good group.”

Barnsley head coach Neill Collins was disappointed to not win.

He said: “We’ve not conceded many like that, we’ve maybe scored a couple. We were on the end of a superb strike.

“They were pressing us and ultimately they got the goal, which was a fantastic goal and they pushed us right to the end.

“Frustrating not to get three points. We were ahead and probably looked like we were going to see it out despite not being at our best, but we’ll take the point and recognise that it’s been a really tough four games in 10 days.”

On the amount of points picked up in the last four games, Collins said: “Two points a game is always good. Ten was our aim and I think our Peterborough performance was one of those nights where we got punished quite heavily.

“It kind of summed it up that they (Wigan) scored their goal after we had our best opportunity in a four versus two breakaway and should’ve probably ended with a shot at goal.

“Lots for us to think about but ultimately, I think everyone should be really positive with the batch of last four games and not take the second half performance out of perspective.”

The home side led 2-0 thanks to goals from Jordan Jones and Sean Clare when Joshua Earl was sent off for the Cod Army in first-half stoppage time for simulation in the penalty area.

The second period was only damage limitation, with Tom Pearce firing home a cracking free-kick just past the hour mark to put the icing on the cake.

“I thought the first half was very good and the contest changed in the second half after the sending off,” said Maloney.

“We had some brilliant individual performances, which always helps.

“I know we have some really talented players – (Martial) Godo, (Stephen) Humphrys and (Jordan) Jones were brilliant – and when we got them into good positions their talent took over.

“But I still loved the fact they gave me just as much out of possession as in it.

“In the second half, the game became reasonably controlled, the game was very, very different.

“Some games when we play the way we did tonight, I really enjoy watching it.

“But in other games, you can also enjoy the fight equally as much.

“And you have to show both sides if you want to get anywhere in this league.”

For Fleetwood manager Lee Johnson, it was a night that started badly – as Wigan led inside four minutes – and got progressively worse.

“It was a tough watch for sure,” he said. “This team has a lot to do, we knew that when we came in, the position we picked the club up in.

“But we’ve got a responsibility to the town, in my view, to the staff, to the people who work at the club, to give more than we gave in the first half.

“And that is what really, really hurts me.

“The game-changing moment, even though we were already 2-0 down, was obviously the penalty…or the sending off.

“It’s definitely not simulation, there’s no doubt about that, there is definitely contact.

“So the referee, in my view, has to either give a penalty or a goal kick, it’s as simple as that.

“We’ve been let down by the system in that sense and that’s where it becomes really frustrating for me as a manager because you can’t even appeal two yellows.

“The system seems pretty broken in that sense because we’re going to lose a player for a game that we don’t deserve to.

“In the second half, we salvaged a little bit of pride, in terms of the effort and the energy and the work rate.

“But there’s a lot to do, the confidence wasn’t there in the first half to play the way we wanted to play and it got progressively worse.

“Good players were making bad decisions too often and we might have to adjust how we look to start games.”

Martial Godo capitalised on an Exeter defensive error to tap in Shaun Humphreys’ low cross for the opener after eight minutes, before Jordan Jones’ stoppage-time strike took a huge deflection off Will Aimson before nestling in the net to complete the win.

“We put a challenge to the group but I wasn’t sure how the game would look,” Maloney said. “I wasn’t sure what it would look like in terms of adversity. I am very proud of my young players.

“We went quite aggressive with the front three. I knew how Exeter would play, they try and dominate the ball, but I felt with the front three we could win the ball back very quickly and then be a threat.

“It is quite satisfying for a coach to see the whole squad celebrating like that.

“The victory meant a lot and we had a really good travelling support considering the distance. We are happy to give them something to go home with.

“I wasn’t quite sure with that young a group how we would compete but the young players did a really good job and the senior players got them over the line.”

Maloney and Caldwell have known each other for over 20 years and the Exeter manager was left frustrated after seeing his side register 29 shots on goal and dominate the game with 72 per cent possession.

“I thought we played well, but I felt we gifted them a goal and the way that they came to win the game, it allowed them to play very deep and slow the game down at every opportunity and frustrate us,” Caldwell said.

“I still think we created moments and opportunities, but we have to be better in the final third. We have to be more clinical. We had 29 shots and only four on target and I think that tells the story of the game.

“It’s clear we need to be better in that area of the pitch and I am sure we will get better when Ads (Admiral Muskwe) and different players pick up their fitness levels and that understanding of playing with each other.

“Another lesson is that we can’t concede a goal as easily as we did. Wigan didn’t come here to score, they came here to frustrate and wait for a mistake and we gifted them that opportunity.

“The effort and application was outstanding, we kept going right to the end and their second goal just sums up what’s been happening with a ricochet of (Pierce) Sweeney and a big deflection.

“But we need to stick together and be resilient, keep believing in what we are doing and I thought we showed that in the second half.”

Norway Under-21 international Thelo Aasgaard scored what proved to be the only goal just after the half-hour mark with a brilliant strike from the edge of the area.

Despite the visitors coming on strong in the second half, they were unable to restore parity, with Young England goalkeeper Sam Tickle making an outstanding save at the end to deny Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan.

“It was a really big win, you could probably tell by the second half, and the anxiety in the stands,” said Maloney.

“It was a really big game, and we had to show both sides.

“The first half, I really liked, we created two or three opportunities that, on another day if we’d taken, could have made it a very different story.

“But that’s football, Reading knew it was a big game as well, and they threw everything at us in that second half.

“We required a big save from our goalkeeper right at the end, and also a massive amount of effort across the board.

“We had to show both sides today, because there’s not too much between the two teams.

“I like their manager, I like how he coaches, and thankfully we came out on the positive side of the result.

“We got beat 2-0 at Reading just before Christmas, and I was actually really happy with the way we played in large parts of the game.

“The first half here felt similar, very good defensively, but this time we had a little bit more in attack.”

For Reading boss Ruben Selles – with even more off-field worries to contend with than on -field – it was a case of what might have been.

“I think we did enough to get a point there, we certainly created enough situations,” he said.

“The first half was 50/50, there were some moments for us and some moments for them.

“We had a big chance just before the half-time, and then they score their goal.

“The second half we dominated the game and we created plenty of situations.

“Of course, we can do even more, but I think we did enough to pick up at least one point.

“We are working day to day at the moment, every thought has been about today, and now it switches to tomorrow.

“We will see what that brings, and at all times trying to focus on the football rather than the other things.

“But I don’t want to keep on making excuses for not getting points, because I think we are good enough to play against most teams and compete against them.”

Maloney saw his 10 men survive the dismissal of Matt Smith and a late comeback bid to sink high-flying Posh in a thriller – after also winning the November reverse fixture.

Thelo Aasgaard starred with a double thanks to the Latics’ 20th-minute opener and a third goal in the 85th minute after Smith had seen red in the 76th minute.

And the Norwegian ace is locked in dispute over a hat-trick as Latics’ second goal – seven minutes after the break – was given to captain Josh Magennis after an Aasgaard shot appeared to flick off the striker.

Josh Knight and Ricky-Jade Jones struck as Posh bagged two goals in stoppage time, but a dramatic salvage mission was foiled by the clock.

Latics chief Maloney said: “It was a brilliant team performance and a huge win for us.

“I’ve said openly that Peterborough are the strongest side in the division and that shows how well we had to play to beat them.

“Thelo was brilliant throughout the game. His general play was very good and he is now getting into those areas to score goals. I’ll let him and Josh battle it out for the second one!

“The last three or four minutes was not comfortable at all. I was screaming for the final whistle and I was delighted when it came.

“We’ve been to Derby and Bolton and got results and I’d put this at the same level of those.

“The inconsistency we have is probably just a reflection of where we are as a club and a group just now.

“If we get it right, we’re a decent side and today we definitely got it right.”

Posh boss Darren Ferguson bemoaned his side’s wastefulness.

He said: “It’s been mentioned a few times about us not being ruthless in front of goal and it has caught up with us today.

“I feel that if we scored the first goal we would have won comfortably, but those we conceded were real momentum-shifters.

“They scored with their first shot at goal. We then started the second half terribly and all of a sudden Wigan were 2-0 up.

“We were really naive with the third goal and that one is the killer as we would have got something out of the game had we not let that in.

“I genuinely thought we would get an equaliser after getting two goals back, but the lads were naive again – deciding to take extra passes when we had just scored twice from getting the ball into the box.

“That’s twice we’ve lost to Wigan now. I don’t know how, but we have!

“We can’t feel sorry for ourselves and have to go on. If we get a similar reaction to the last time we lost to Wigan, we’ll be absolutely fine.”

The Tangerines were 1-0 up inside five minutes when Jordan Rhodes scored his first goal for the club.

Wigan’s Josh Magennis headed Latics level with a minute of normal time left to play, but Kenny Dougall capped a crazy conclusion to the contest by scoring the winner in the fourth minute of injury time.

However, Maloney was more concerned about his team’s first-half performance than the late goal.

He said: “What I saw from the team in the last 20 minutes is everything that I want from our team, but we have to learn pretty quickly that we can’t just waste a half of football.

“It was the first half that I was probably most disappointed with. The goal at the end, however disappointing, I can’t have any criticism of our players.

“The biggest thing I have to impress is the first half, we can’t waste a half of football like that.

“What I’m finding out as well is it’s a really big game, a really big opponent in this league, and that we have to be a bit more aggressive and understand when we can really attack now that we’re getting teams to give us the ball.

“It was the same at Barnsley and we have to understand the balance between being patient, but when a team does give you that space or we can create, we have to be more aggressive.

“But we just can’t waste a half and then expect to win the game.”

In stark contrast, Blackpool boss Neil Critchley was delighted to see his side play so well in the opening 45 minutes.

“I felt we were comfortable in the first half against a really good football team and then we had chances in the second half to kill the game off,” said Critchley.

“The goalkeeper has made some great saves, and you know that while it is 1-0, they can throw more attackers on, and you are just hoping that you either kill the game off at the other end or that you can see the game out and we didn’t quite see it out.

“I’m delighted with the result. I think we deserved it to be honest with the chances that we created in the game. We showed tremendous character and started really well.

“The three subs combined, Owen (Dale) to Matty (Virtue) to Kenny (Dougall), they made an impact when they came on and it was a brilliant feeling for the players.

“They deserved that and I don’t think they have had what they deserved in some of the other games recently.”

Wednesday have already issued an immediate ban against the person who racially abused manager Darren Moore following the 4-0 loss at London Road and have insisted they will do the same again following this incident.

They said in a statement: “Sheffield Wednesday manager Darren Moore was subject to a disgraceful racist comment on a social media platform this week following the Owls’ game at Peterborough on Friday evening.

“It has since come to light that a similar appalling racist post was made in the direction of our chairman Dejphon Chansiri.

“This incident is also in the hands of the authorities and the individual responsible will be subject to the same consequences.

“We are fully conversant with the emotions stirred by football and the immediacy of social media platforms.

“However, when comments cross the line of moral decency and indeed the law, this will not be tolerated.

“We stand together with our chairman, manager and society as one in condemning all forms of discrimination and will continue taking every step possible to stamp out this wholly unacceptable behaviour.”

The Owls, whose 96 points in the regular League One campaign was a club record but only good enough to see them finish third, will try to salvage their promotion hopes in Thursday’s second leg at Hillsborough.