League One round-up: Hospitalised ex-Portsmouth boss’ Shrewsbury role as side down Peterborough | Lincoln knocked off top despite 'best' display of Appleton’s reign against Doncaster | 'Shocking' decision aids Sunderland

Steve Cotterill helped guide Shrewsbury to yet another win over a League One promotion challenger - despite being in hospital with coronavirus.
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The Shrews picked up a 2-0 success over Peterborough to make it four victories over sides battling to make the Championship since Cotterill became manager in November.

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Stand-in boss Aaron Wilbraham told the Shropshire Star: ‘We've just had the gaffer on loudspeaker there at the end of the game in the changing room then.

‘It was quality, the things he said, you could hear he was emotional in his voice, the boys really appreciate the things he said.

‘It was like he was back in the building for a second. It was really good. He was really proud of everyone, it's been difficult times.

‘We got him on at half-time as well, I had a couple of missed calls from him, he wanted to speak to the players.

L-R Steve Cotterill, Steve Evans, Michael Appleton and Grant McCannL-R Steve Cotterill, Steve Evans, Michael Appleton and Grant McCann
L-R Steve Cotterill, Steve Evans, Michael Appleton and Grant McCann
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‘In the things he says, the gaffer, he doesn't miss a trick in every aspect of life.

‘In everything he said, you can see the boys nodding their heads or answering individually when he spoke to them, it kept them going, it's really important because he's such a big miss around the place.

‘He text me congratulations and is really proud of everyone, all the staff and the players.’

Michael Appleton was left wondering how his Lincoln side fell to a 1-0 loss to Doncaster, as his team missed two penalties and dominated the clash at Sincil Bank.

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The ex-Blues boss told Lincolnshire Live: ‘I just hope we get all our frustrations out in one game.

‘It was arguably the best performance since I’ve been here. It had everything. I thought we were outstanding with the ball, we were good out of possession.

‘We gave away a bit of a scruffy goal from our point of view but in terms of asking questions of the opposition, asking their keeper to make saves, making their defenders put their bodies on the line, I can’t ask for any more. It had everything.

‘And that’s against a side who normally like to dominate the ball and are probably the better side [in their games] most weeks. We made them look pretty ordinary but ultimately we haven’t won the game.’

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Gillingham boss Steve Evans was adamant his team were on the receiving end of a bad refereeing decision as they drew 2-2 at Sunderland.

He told the Sunderland Echo: ‘We were decent; we battled hard.

‘We got back into the game, Alex MacDonald’s is a good strike, we hit the underside of the bar and were totally dominant.

‘We had a penalty given against us, it’s a shocking decision. In the second half they had a little spell; for ten minutes they were the better side but didn’t make a chance.

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‘We changed the system, Tyreke Johnson puts a brilliant all in; the flick from John Akinde was excellent and it was a fantastic finish from Jordan Graham.

‘We played very well in spells; we make the long journey back to Kent with real disappointment that we don’t go back with all three points. The players gave us everything.’

Hull went top with a 1-0 win over Swindon, and boss Grant McCann felt his side were in control as they bounced back from defeat at Accrington after thrashing Pompey 4-0.

He told hullcitytigers.com: ‘I didn’t think we were in any real danger. Defensively, from the turn of the year, we’ve been really good. We were again today.‘I thought we showed both sides of our game today and responded really well to a defeat during the week.

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‘To respond again, against a team who are fighting for their lives, it’s a big win for us today. Mentally, for the players to get the three points was massive.’

League One results: Sunderland 2 Gillingham 2, Hull 1 Swindon 0, Crewe 1 Ipswich 1, AFC Wimbledon 0 MK Dons 2, Lincoln 0 Doncaster 1, Bristol Rovers 1 Rochdale 2, Oxford 1 Fleetwood 0, Plymouth 2 Accrington 2, Shewsbury 2 Peterborough 0.

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