League One & Two: Derby hit back to beat Oxford; wins for Bolton and Notts County

1. League One: Derby come from 2-0 down to beat Oxford; Leaders Portsmouth draw 0-0 with struggling Exeter
2. Peterborough come from two down to draw with Barnsley but slip to third; Bolton go second after Fleetwood win
3. Wigan beat bottom side Carlisle; Reading draw with Cheltenham in relegation battle
4. League Two: Walsall beat Wrexham; leaders Stockport held goalless at Bradford
5. In-form Barrow draw with Accrington; Langstaff hits hat-trick in Notts County's 5-0 win over Morecambe
6. Troy Deeney's Forest Green miss late penalty to lose at Swindon and stay bottom

Thanks for your company in 2023!

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A fantastic night of League One and League Two football under the Friday night lights!

61 goals across the 23 games that were completed with some huge performances as Derby's comeback from 2-0 down to win 3-2 at Oxford took the headlines in League One.

In League Two, Macauley Langstaff was the headline grabber as he ended the year in the manner he has played throughout 2023, with a hat-trick in Notts County's 5-0 win over Morecambe.

That ends the EFL live text coverage for this year.

Enjoy the new year celebrations over the weekend, we'll be back with you for more in 2024!

Bottom of League Two - Bottom four pointless

BBC Sport

At the bottom, Grimsby’s 3-0 win at Salford hauled them four clear of the bottom four, all of whom lost.

Second-bottom Sutton went down 1-0 at Gillingham after playing more than an hour with 10-men to stay a point above Forest Green who went down 2-1 at Swindon late-on.

Colchester have a six-point cushion over the bottom two despite their 5-3 reverse at AFC Wimbledon and are only below Salford on goal difference.

Top of League Two - Top four go winless

BBC Sport

It’s getting tighter at the top of League Two after a night when none of the top four won.

Stockport are five points clear at the summit after an entertaining stalemate at Bradford but Mansfield are now their closest challengers, climbing to second despite being pegged back to draw 1-1 at home to Doncaster.

Wrexham slipped to third on goal difference after losing 3-1 at Walsall while Barrow also missed the chance to go second as they were held 1-1 by Accrington, though they made it 14 games unbeaten.

Notts County were the big winners, closing within four points of old rivals Wrexham in the final automatic promotion spot with a 5-0 mauling of Morecambe with Macauley Langstaff firing a hat-trick.

MK Dons and AFC Wimbledon make-up the play-off places after wins over Crawley and Colchester respectively.

Bottom of League One - Carlisle being cut adrift

BBC Sport

Another miserable night for Carlisle as they head into 2024 bottom following a 2-0 loss at Wigan.

It was not much better for Fleetwood, who lost at home to Bolton.

Cheltenham and Reading shared four goals in an entertaining game, but they remain stuck in the bottom four.

Exeter and Wycombe failed to score, but picked up points in their goalless draws with Portsmouth and Leyton Orient.

While Burton picked up a second win of the festive period to continue Shrewsbury's misery on the road and move seven points clear of the drop zone.

Top of League One - Pompey lead cut

BBC Sport

Portsmouth remain top but after a goalless draw at Exeter, the gap is down to two points after Bolton's comfortable win at Fleetwood.

Peterborough fought back from two goals down to draw with Barnsley, but they slip to third level on points with Derby after their sensational comeback from 2-0 down to win 3-2 at Oxford.

The Rams welcome Posh to Pride Park on New Year's Day.

Stevenage did not even play after their game at home to Cambridge was postponed because of floodlight failure but still moved up a place on goal difference after Oxford's loss.

League One full-time headlines

• Derby come back from two goals down early on to beat Oxford 3-2.
• Leaders Portsmouth fail to win for a third game in a row for the first time all season after a 0-0 away draw at Exeter.
• Bolton move up to second after a comfortable win at relegation-threatened Fleetwood.

• Peterborough come from behind to secure 2-2 draw with Barnsley.
• The points were shared between Cheltenham and Reading at the bottom, with all four goals coming in the opening 45.
• Wigan see off bottom side Carlisle 2-0 to move away from drop zone.
• Home wins for Burton (1-0 v Shrewsbury), Port Vale (3-0 v Blackpool), and Bristol Rovers (2-1 v Charlton) to end 2023.
• Northampton defeat 10-man Lincoln, while Leyton Orient and Wycombe finish goalless in East London.
• Stevenage v Cambridge was postponed following floodlight failure before kick off at the Lamex.

Happy with how your side finished their year?

League Two full time headlines

• Leaders Stockport are held 0-0 at Bradford, and will take a five-point lead into the New Year.
• Mansfield maintain their unbeaten home record to move to second but are held 1-1 at home to Doncaster.
• Barrow are also held 1-1 at home to Accrington, but close the gap on Wrexham, who are beaten 3-1 away at Walsall.
• Four goals from Macauley Langstaff help Notts County thrash Morecambe 5-0
• MK Dons get a fourth straight win to end 2023, beating Crawley 2-0.
• There was a first away win of the season for Grimsby, with Dave Artell’s men running out comfortable 3-0 winners against managerless Salford.
• Eight goals between AFC Wimbledon and Colchester as hosts triumph 5-3 and move into play-off places.
• Bottom side Sutton were defeated 1-0 at Gillingham, while second-bottom Forest Green miss an injury-time penalty and slide to 2-1 defeat in the local derby at Swindon.
• Tranmere record back-to-back away wins for the first time in 2023, defeating Harrogate 2-0.
• Newport and Crewe share the spoils in a 1-1 draw as visitors drop out of play-off places.

Goals in every game, what more could you want?! Bring on 2024!

'You have to take your hats off'

George Thorne

Ex-Derby and Oxford United midfielder on BBC Radio Derby

There were some really good individual performances, including Nathaniel Méndez-Laing, he stood out.

The first goal was important timing in the game, they have come away to a promotion rival and dominated for 70 minutes away from home.

You have to take your hats off, that was a statement win.

FULL-TIME

The relegation strugglers share four goals and take one point apiece.

Cheltenham went two up but two goals at the end of the first half brought Reading back into it.

With neither side claiming a winner, they both end the year in the bottom four.

FULL-TIME

Joe Pritchard's low finish into the corner on 71 minutes was enough to earn Accrington an unlikely point at Barrow.

Ben Whitfield's sixth goal in as many games had the Bluebirds on course but they were pegged back for the second time this week at Holker Street and have to settle for extending their club record unbeaten run to 14 matches.

FULL-TIME

Frustration for both teams as it finishes with a point apiece.

Herbie Kane and Devante Cole had put Barnsley two up, but Jonson Clarke-Harris' two goals brought Peterborough level.

They both hit the woodwork searching for a winner and they end up having to settle for a draw.

FULL-TIME

Macauley Langstaff's first-half hat-trick - his first in the EFL - means he is the top-scorer in the country at the end of 2023 with 18 goals.

Notts County look like they are back in business after two wins in four days, eight goals scored and none conceded.

FULL-TIME

We were questioning Derby's promotion credentials when Cameron Brannagan scored twice to put Oxford two up.

But what a response from the Rams!

Liam Thompson's equaliser and a winner from Eiran Cashin mean it is now eight wins and a draw in their last nine games.

That is promotion form!

FULL-TIME

Don't ask me how, but it's ended goalless.

Chances at both ends and some fine defending, plus one particularly good save from County keeper Ben Hinchliffe ensured the points were shared.

That's three wins in 12 games, having won the previous 13, for Stockport but can anyone else take advantage of the leaders failing to secure maximum points tonight to close the gap?

Into five minutes of added time in Gloucestershire.

Will we have a fifth goal?

CLOSE!

Kian Spence is the latest to come close for Barrow, Niall Canavan flicked on a high cross but Spence can only blast wide from close range.

14 unbeaten if it stays like this, but they want more.

Oxford were ahead from the 2nd minute until the 81st minute.

Now they somehow have to try and summon something from somewhere in these last few minutes to salvage a point.

'Oxford have to go for it'

Peter Rhoades-Brown

Former Oxford United and Chelsea winger on BBC Radio Oxford

Oxford have just got to go for it now. If they lose 4-2, then so be it!

Stockport on top in the closing stages but Odin Bailey is the latest Hatters man to fire the wrong side of the post as they try to find a late breakthrough.

League Two update

Rex Features

Everyone's looking to end 2023 with a bang!

AFC Wimbledon have put daylight between themselves and Colchester in a bit of a thriller at Plough Lane, it's now 4-2 to the hosts.

Grimsby's first win on the road this season is just minutes away, they are three up at managerless Salford.

Forest Green briefly levelled against Swindon, but The Robins are back in front and visiting manger Troy Deeney has also been sent off.

The other side in the relegation zone aren't faring much better. Sutton are down to 10 men and trailing at Gillingham.

MK Dons are on for four wins in a row, 2-0 up and cruising at home to Crawley.

Another home win on the cards for Walsall, they lead Wrexham 3-1 as the final few minutes approach.

Where are we going to see that late drama?