Barnsley boss Neill Collins hailed the impact of his half-time substitutes after seeing his side come from behind to win 3-1 at Burton.

Collins brought on striker John McAtee and midfielder Adam Phillips, who were both ill in the build-up to the game, and McAtee responded with a quick-fire brace, his ninth and 10 League One goals of the season, before Luca Connell sealed victory with a third for the Tykes.

“There was no question that we needed more urgency in our play, we needed a bit more quality and that was the message at half-time,” Collins said after his side trailed to Joe Powell’s goal at the break.

“We felt that we had to make changes and we know that with Macca (McAtee) he brings that intensity which is what we love.

“Him and Adam Phillips both reported unwell yesterday and were unable to train, but it was great that they made themselves available.

“We know that a lot of the time it is about what you can do late on in games and to have them and to be able to bring on that sort of quality helped.”

Victory extended Barnsley’s unbeaten away record to 11 games, a club record.

Collins added: “Ultimately are we frustrated in the last couple of weeks that we have let the chances of automatic promotion go?

“Definitely, but I just said to the players that there have lots of fantastic Barnsley teams in my lifetime and today we have broken the away record.”

Burton boss Martin Paterson cut a frustrated figure as he tried to analyse his side’s second-half “capitulation” that saw them slump to a sixth straight home defeat.

“First half was really good.” Paterson said. “Should have been two or three to the good.

“We missed opportunities but finally got that goal that we have been working for and we go in at half-time 1-0 up against an excellent Barnsley side at this level. Then you saw what happened, it was a capitulation.”

Paterson was Collins’ assistant earlier in his career and knew exactly what to expect in the second half.

“Last thing I said to the players at half-time was that there was a storm coming, because I know Neill. He is going to be aggressive and put his subs on early that are quality at this level and that showed in the period of time that they scored three goals.”

With five games to go Albion are looking over their shoulders at the bottom four and Paterson knows he needs more from his side in the remaining games.

“The performance levels are there in moments, but we can’t seem to get a complete performance,” he said.

“I am trying to be really creative with some things, but the truth is that we don’t score in moments when we have teams under pressure and that is hurting us.”

Garry Monk was delighted Cambridge showed their true ability over the Easter weekend.

The U’s had only previously won successive league games once all season but made it a six-point haul after seeing off Wigan 3-1.

Gassan Ahadme marked his first start since December with a brace to add to his goal at Barnsley on Good Friday, before Danny Andrew sealed the points with a brilliant late free-kick.

Wigan had made eight changes following their draw with Burton and were unable to force an equaliser after Martial Godo had pulled it back to 2-1.

“We all knew that’s within them,” said Monk. “We dipped below that in the two games before. But I think what we’ve seen in these two games is proof of what we kind of knew; what was under the bonnet.

“It was a different type of performance today. It was a little bit scrappy at times, but I think overall the level of commitment to these two games has been huge and they’ve got the deserved results.

“It’s given us a great boost but we’ve got to be mindful there’s still more work to do. We’re not going to rest on our laurels because we’ve had six points and a couple of good performances. We need more. That’s what we’re going to push for.”

On forward Ahadme, Monk added: “He came on against Barnsley and was a machine.

“It’s exactly what we need. He sets the tone at the front in these last two games. I’m always looking from a centre-back point of view, thinking ‘would I like to play against that?’ He’s deceptively strong, he’s willing, he’s game and he’s got quality.”

Shaun Maloney was not too downbeat about Wigan’s performance but rued the key moments in which Cambridge scored their goals.

“In the really key moments they were better than us,” Maloney said. “They had two one-v-ones in our box, they get the first contact and score.

“In terms of general performance I can’t ask too much more.

“We dominated the game for large parts with the ball, we created chances, but in the really key moments we couldn’t take ours. Whenever they had a cross or a set play they took their chance.

“I need to see the same sort of intensity and desire that we had against Blackpool, because we still needed points to get safe. I need to emphasise to the players we need more points. Not just players, me and the staff, everyone together.

“Ninety per cent of the performance I can’t criticise the players. It’s the really key ones where we have to defend the box or defend a second phase, that’s where the game was won and lost today.”

Half-time substitute John McAtee scored twice as Barnsley produced a second-half comeback to win 3-1 at struggling Burton.

The on-loan Luton striker produced two unerring finishes to inspire the Tykes after an uninspiring first-half showing from Neill Collins’ promotion chasers.

Burton, trying to distance themselves from the bottom four, grabbed the lead eight minutes before the break when Joe Powell drove home from the edge of the box.

But Barnsley made a double change at the start of the second half, with McAtee one of those introduced, and within nine minutes he had fired in the equaliser before finding the bottom corner from Sam Cosgrove’s flick to put the visitors ahead.

A third followed for Barnsley after 69 minutes when Luca Connell was able to advance into the box and drive a low shot across Max Crocombe and into the bottom corner.

Defeat left Albion just outside the bottom four after a sixth straight home defeat, while the Tykes remained on course for the play-offs after extending their unbeaten away run to 11 games.

Blackpool were held to a 0-0 draw by Wycombe as the Seasiders’ League One play-off hopes suffered a blow.

The hosts had several chances to win the game but were unable to convert any as the stalemate left them six points off the top six with five games to play.

CJ Hamilton found space down the left early on, but Shayne Lavery could not get on the end of his cross.

Matty Virtue and Sonny Carey both took aim but were denied by Wycombe goalkeeper Franco Ravizzoli
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It continued to be one way traffic until half-time, with Carey and Matthew Pennington firing just wide.

Wycombe improved at the start of the second half, prompting Pool boss Neil Critchley to make a triple substitution in the 63rd minute as Karamoko Dembele, Jake Beesley and George Byers entered the action.

The trio had little impact initially and the visitors should have taken the lead through their substitute Sam Vokes, who volleyed over from close range.

Jordan Lawrence-Gabriel and Beesley then forced good saves from Ravizzoli, and Kylian Kouassi headed just over as Blackpool searched desperately for a late winner which failed to arrive.

Stevenage saw their League One play-off hopes dented as a 0-0 draw at Charlton extended their winless run to seven matches.

Victories for Lincoln and Oxford, coupled with a second successive goalless draw for Steve Evans’ side, left Boro three points adrift of the final play-off place.

Charlton’s 17th draw of the campaign extended their unbeaten run to 10 league matches and left them eight points clear of the relegation zone.

A scrappy first half failed to produce a significant effort of note with visiting boss Evans making a triple change at the break to try and spark his side into action.

The first major opportunity fell to Stevenage’s top-scorer Jamie Reid in the 59th minute but the striker headed over the crossbar from close range after a deep cross by Luther James-Wildin was nodded into his path by Vadaine Oliver.

Nick Freeman also sliced across the face of goal for the away side after fellow substitute Oliver teed him up for a strike.

Charlton, with just one win at home since November 28, struggled to forge openings.

Substitute Tyreeq Bakinson flicked Thierry Small’s cross wide from 10 yards out in the 70th minute.

Addicks goalkeeper Harry Isted was called into action twice in the closing stages to keep out headers from Oliver.

Peterborough gave their Sky Bet League One promotion hopes a boost with a 2-1 win at Leyton Orient.

Hector Kyprianou and Ephron Mason-Clark gave Peterborough a two-goal half-time lead before Orient midfielder Ethan Galbraith reduced the deficit after the break.

It took Posh just eight minutes to go ahead but they owed their advantage to a howler from Sol Brynn.

The goalkeeper on loan from Middlesbrough allowed a cross from Harrison Burrows to go through his hands and former Orient player Kyprianou was presented with the simplest of chances to grab his eighth goal of the campaign.

Promotion chasers Posh doubled their lead after 25 minutes after Josh Knight nodded a cross from David Ajiboye across goal and leading scorer Mason-Clark bundled the ball into the net for his 19th goal of the season.

Comfortable in the first-half, the visitors struggled to dictate in the second period after Orient made three half-time substitutions and when Galbraith reduced the deficit in the 66th minute, Posh were made to work hard to protect their lead.

Keeper Jed Steer was forced into a finger-tip save to deny Galbraith a second but the resilient visitors ran out worthy winners to maintain their automatic promotion hopes.

Mitch Pinnock and Shaun McWilliams scored for Northampton as they beat struggling Port Vale 2-0 at Sixfields.

Pinnock’s sweet finish was the difference at half-time before McWilliams added the gloss in stoppage time as the mid-table Cobblers plunged Vale deeper into relegation trouble.

There were chances at both ends in the opening three minutes as Sam Hoskins volleyed over for Northampton before Vale’s Ethan Chislett forced goalkeeper Lee Burge into a sharp low save.

Burge denied the same player with another good stop later in the first half before Northampton went in front after 34 minutes when Pinnock finished crisply into the bottom corner after being sent through by Kieron Bowie.

Ben Garrity headed over and also scuffed wide at the start of the second half before Vale applied sustained pressure on the home goal without reward.

Uche Ikpeazu could not beat Burge when put through one-on-one and Vale’s defeat was confirmed at the death when McWilliams tapped in after good work by Tyreece Simpson.

Bristol Rovers and Shrewsbury drew 0-0 in a Sky Bet League One contest which saw both teams strike the woodwork at the Memorial Stadium.

Aiden O’Brien volleyed against the crossbar from just outside the area three minutes after half-time for Shrewsbury.

Jevani Brown hit the post in the 86th minute as the home side went close to finding a late winner, with a left foot shot from just inside the area after an Antony Evans pass.

Chris Martin could have broken the deadlock in the 12th minute after Brandon Aguilera won the ball high up the pitch and fed the striker but Martin’s clipped finish just missed the goal.

Tom Bayliss blazed over the bar in first half stoppage-time in the Shrews’ best opportunity to score in the first period.

Sam Finley’s volley at goal in the 33rd minute was straight at visiting goalkeeper Marko Marosi, who saved again two minutes later as Luca Hoole released Martin through but wide of goal.

Rovers substitute Grant Ward spurned a great chance to decide the contest in the 70th minute when he miskicked Luke Thomas’ cutback.

However, a game marked by several tetchy off-the-ball confrontations between players finished goalless.

Aaron Collins scored his first Bolton hat-trick as Wanderers beat Reading 5-2 to register a first League One win in three games and revive their automatic promotion hopes.

Collins netted a stunning 11th-minute opener and then converted a penalty in first-half stoppage time after Lewis Wing’s deflected long-range effort brought the Royals level.

He completed his first treble for more than two years after 77 minutes as Bolton closed to within three points of second-placed Derby, who travel to leaders Portsmouth on Tuesday night.

Wanderers had not beaten Reading on home turf since the sides met in the Premier League in 2007.

But they took an early lead as Collins found the top corner from 25 yards.

Wing responded five minutes before half-time but Collins restored the advantage ahead of the break, scoring from the spot after being fouled by Amadou Mbengue.

Collins then played a role in the build-up to Jon Dadi Bodvarsson’s clever close-range finish in the 49th minute before completing his treble by lashing into the roof of the net.

Paul Mukairu grabbed a consolation in stoppage time for Reading, who are six points clear of the drop, but there was still time for Bodvarsson to score his second.

Gassan Ahadme scored twice as Cambridge made it back-to-back victories with a 3-1 win against Wigan.

The U’s went in front from their first attack in the 11th minute. James Brophy provided a perfect low delivery for the left and Ahadme marked his first start of 2024 with a sweeping finish into the far corner.

Wigan were given a huge chance to draw level 10 minutes before the break when Jordan Cousins pulled Josh Magennis down in the box, only for Magennis to see his penalty saved by Will Mannion diving to his right.

Instead it was Cambridge who scored next 12 minutes after half-time. Sullay Kaikai found space on the left and produced a fine delivery which was nodded home by Ahadme.

Wigan reduced the deficit after 65 minutes when Martial Godo ran clear following Scott Smith’s ball through the middle and fired beyond Mannion.

Any hopes of a Latics comeback were ended seven minutes from time when Danny Andrew sent a superb free-kick past Sam Tickle from 30 yards.

Lincoln continued their late play-off charge with a 3-1 victory over relegation-threatened Carlisle.

The impressive Imps secured a fifth successive win as they extended their unbeaten run to 15 games.

Michael Skubala’s side are ahead of seventh-placed Oxford on goal difference with five games to go.

Ben House opened the scoring in the 10th minute, slotting home after Joe Taylor flicked Lasse Sorensen’s deep cross into his path.

Jack Robinson blasted over the crossbar with Carlisle’s best chance before the break.

Jordan Wright produced a good save to tip a Jon Mellish header over at the start of the second half.

Luton loanee Taylor scored his 21st goal of the campaign as House turned provider for the striker to double his side’s advantage in the 56th minute.

Sam Lavelle pulled one back with 10 minutes to go as he poked home from Sean Maguire’s knock down.

Paudie O’Connor’s flick hit a post for the visitors before Teddy Bishop sealed the points with a stunning strike in the third minute of stoppage time.

Exeter hit back from a goal down to claim a last-gasp 2-1 win at relegation-threatened Cheltenham in Sky Bet League One.

The home side opened the scoring through Ben Williams in the 51st minute but Luke Harris levelled five minutes later and Reece Cole won it from the penalty spot in the final minute.

Exeter were the better side during a first half played in heavy rain.

Mo Eisa was close to scoring against his old club in the fourth minute, racing through on goal and slotting past Luke Southwood, only for his shot to trickle just wide, before Ryan Woods forced Southwood into a good save in the 22nd minute.

Cheltenham made a double substitution at half-time and also adapted their formation and it quickly paid off.

Will Ferry found Sean Long and his cross was nodded in by Williams six minutes after he joined the action.

Harris levelled for Exeter five minutes later, receiving Tom Carroll’s pass and applying an expert finish in front of the 1,522 travelling fans.

The hosts nearly regained their lead in the 73rd minute when Joe Nuttall’s header from Liam Sercombe’s cross was parried but Ferry could not force the ball over the line from close range.

And Exeter won it at the end when Lewis Freestone handled Ryan Woods’ shot in the box and Cole made no mistake from the spot.

Mark Harris scored twice as Oxford rekindled their push for a Sky Bet League One play-off place with a 4-0 victory over struggling Fleetwood for their biggest win of the season.

The U’s, who slipped out of the top six when held at Shrewsbury on Good Friday, had this game in the bag by half-time.

Cameron Brannagan fired them in front in the 14th minute with a shot that deflected off Imari Samuels.

Harris turned in Josh Murphy’s left-wing cross at full stretch to double the lead after 30 minutes.

Owen Dale knocked the ball home at the far post two minutes before the break after Jay Lynch parried Joe Bennett’s shot.

Harris bagged his second seven minutes from time with a shot that deflected in off Brendan Wiredu.

Fleetwood should have been ahead before Brannagan’s opener as Tommy Lonergan ran on to Elliott Moore’s misplaced header and chipped the keeper but saw his effort go the wrong side of the post.

Murphy, Brannagan, Ruben Rodrigues and Sam Long went close to adding more for Oxford with low shots, while Town were unfortunate when Phoenix Patterson’s 20-yard free-kick came back off the bar.

Cambridge head coach Garry Monk was full of praise for his players after the 2-0 win at Barnsley which earned him his first win since taking charge.

An own goal from Mael de Gevigney gave struggling Cambridge the lead before Gassan Ahadme sealed a crucial three points.

Monk said: “We’ve had two weeks to work on stuff, for this particular game, and I was interested to see the level of fight that goes with it and I thought we got all of that.

“I was really pleased because the last two weeks we’ve worked extremely hard and when you’re in a moment of low confidence you need something like this, you need a performance like this.

“You need certain things in games to go for you and obviously you need a result, something to build on. In terms of the level of performance, it was much more in the realms of what we were looking for.

“Delighted for the players, obviously the travelling fans. Giving them a good trip home is obviously important, compared to the last couple. So overall, a pleasing day. But we need more. We’ve got a game on Monday, we’ve set the standard today and we need to back this up.”

Barnsley head coach Neill Collins felt his side’s performance did not match with a disappointing defeat for his play-off chasing side.

He said: “The first goal was a freak incident, I think that maybe happens one in a million.

“A misplaced back-pass – I won’t go into too much detail but ultimately it’s a freak. Normally it goes back to the goalkeeper and you play it up the field, you play it out, just today we got punished pretty brutally and it was the last thing we needed.

“Then we went on and we really should really have just put the ball in the net. We missed good chances and when you do that, then you end up with what we got. We got punished again.

“They took the second goal, made it really difficult, so I’m so bitterly disappointed with the result but I think there’s parts of our performances that need to be better.

“Would we have liked to create a little bit more? Yeah, absolutely. I think that’s where we can just do a little bit better individually and collectively – that last ball, that final delivery.

“That’s where we’ve got to be really careful because you can’t say we created any less today than we have in a lot of other victories this year.

“But in the victories we punished those chances, today we didn’t and we got pretty brutally punished at the other end.”

Portsmouth assistant Jon Harley is not focused on promotion despite a 3-1 victory at Wycombe moving the Sky Bet League One leaders closer to the Championship.

Pompey moved 11 points clear of third-placed Bolton following a stylish performance at Adams Park, in which top scorer Colby Bishop scored twice to make it 18 goals for the season.

Eight points from their remaining six games are required for Pompey to seal their return to the second tier after a 12-year absence, with a top-of-the-table clash with Derby to come on Tuesday night.

Harley, in charge on the touchline due to John Mousinho’s ban, said: “I don’t think that (promotion) is something we really want to talk about too much.

“As boring as it sounds, we’ve got a massive game against Derby coming up, so we just focus on that.

“I think if we focus on one game at a time, then the rest will take care of itself.

“Obviously, there is that going on in the back of our minds, we just want to get there as soon as we can and Derby becomes our next focus.

“The gaffer came down at half-time and had a few words and the key message, really, was let’s show some more energy.

“We knew it was going to be a fight in the second half and everyone stood up to it.

“The energy really rose and I think the game got wrapped up and in the last 20 minutes we felt really comfortable.”

Portsmouth led after three minutes when Bishop’s shot went in via a big deflection off Ryan Tafazolli, but Wycombe quickly levelled through Matt Butcher’s assured finish.

Bishop then doubled his tally after 28 minutes by steering in Abu Kamara’s low cross before Christian Saydee made sure of victory midway through the second half.

Wycombe boss Matt Bloomfield said: “I felt we weren’t at our best, but we’ve gone pretty close.

“We had a couple of chances when we were 2-1 down – we hit the bar and had another couple of moments and if one of those goes in at 2-2, I really fancy us at home to have a good last half an hour.

“Unfortunately, it wasn’t to be and we had a bit of a sucker punch to go 3-1 down, which took the wind out of our sails a little bit.

“Portsmouth are at the top of the league for a reason.

“They’ve got some good players in forward areas who can hurt you at any moment and in Colby Bishop I think you’ll do well to find a better nine in the league.

“They’ve got some real good players and they’re a benchmark of where we want to get to.”