League One roundup: Wolverhampton Wanderers go top on goal difference

Wolverhampton Wanderers have moved top of League One on goal difference with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Port Vale at Molineux today.

Following a goalless first half, Bakary Sako opened the scoring for the West Midlands outfit before a brace from Nouha Dicko consolidated the points.

Dicko was denied his hat-trick the closing stages after seeing a penalty saved by Chris Neal. Nevertheless, Wolves move ahead of Leyton Orient at the summit on goal difference.

Orient needed an 83rd-minute winner from Moses Odubajo to secure a 2-1 win over Colchester United at the Matchroom Stadium.

David Mooney fired the hosts into a 1-0 lead before Marcus Bean restored parity on 79 minutes.

However, Odubajo converted a Shaun Batt through-ball four minutes to seal the three points for Russell Slade's men.

Elsewhere, Preston North End remain on the fringes of the automatic promotion places. They secured a hard-fought 2-1 win over 10-man Walsall to stay six points adrift of the top two.

The Lilywhites took a third-minute lead courtesy of a Paul Downing own goal before the visitors hit back almost immediately through Sam Mantom.

Bailey Wright re-established the advantage on the half-hour mark for Simon Grayson's men, which proved sufficient in earning the three points.

Any hopes of a late equaliser were extinguished after Mantom was issued with a straight red card for a late challenge on Joe Garner in the closing stages.

Meanwhile, Rotherham United flashed their promotion credentials in ruthless fashion by dispatching Notts County 6-0 at the New York Stadium.

Steve Evans's men were four goals to the good inside 30 minutes, as strikes James Tavernier, Haris Vuckic and Alex Revell and a Kieran Agard penalty effectively killed off the encounter.

Vuckic bagged his brace on the hour mark before Tom Hitchcock added the cherry on top with seven minutes remaining.

As a result, Rotherham consolidate their playoff spot by moving nine points clear of sixth-placed Peterborough United, who slumped to a 1-0 defeat away to Crawley Town.

Matt Tubbs struck an 86th-minute penalty to down Posh and send Crawley seven points clear of the relegation zone.

Stevenage moved away from the foot of the table courtesy of a Luke Freeman-inspired win at Bradford City.

Goals from Adam Reach and James Hanson helped the Bantams to a 2-1 half-time lead after Francois Zoko had briefly equalised.

Boro rallied in the second half and drew level on 65 minutes through Freeman, who replicated his heroics three minutes from time to give Graham Westley's charges a valuable victory in their relegation battle.

Results in full: Bradford City 2-3 Stevenage, Bristol City 2-1 Gillingham, Carlisle United 0-0 Brentford, Crawley Town 1-0 Peterborough United, Crewe Alexandra 1-1 Swindon Town, Leyton Orient 2-1 Colchester United, MK Dons 0-1 Sheffield United, Preston 2-1 Walsall, Rotherham United 6-0 Notts County, Tranmere Rovers 2-2 Oldham Athletic, Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-0 Port Vale