A 94th-minute winner from substitute Callum Marshall earned Luton Town a well-deserved 2-1 win against ten-man Leicester City, and moved the Hatters up to tenth in League One and within three points of the play-off places.
It was Marshall’s third goal since his move from West Ham, and the Luton boss was thrilled for the 22-year-old after naming him on the bench for the third successive game.
“I’m delighted for Marshy, that’s what we need from him,” declared Wilshere.
Striker Dion Charles was also on the scoresheet at the weekend, scoring his second goal of the season three minutes before the break. However, it proved to be a mere consolation as Blackpool suffered a 4-1 home defeat to Mansfield Town, with goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell preventing an even heavier loss by saving a 40th-minute penalty from Michael Smith.
In League Two, former Cliftonville striker Ronan Hale scored his sixth goal of the campaign to equalise for Gillingham against Grimsby Town. However, the visitors ultimately ran out 4-1 winners, leaving the Kent outfit without a league victory in three matches.
Meanwhile in the Premier League, Braiden Graham and Paddy McNair were unused substitutes for Everton and Hull City respectively. The ever-improving Shea Charles helped Fulham secure a narrow 1-0 win at struggling Coventry City, while Trai Hume played the full ninety minutes as bottom-of-the-table Sunderland picked up a point in a scoreless draw at home to Leeds United.
It was only the Black Cats’ second clean sheet in the Premier League this season, prompting Hume to state that the team needs to return to the solid defensive form they showed last term.
“Last season, we prided ourselves on being together and defensively strong, and we were back to that today,” said Hume. “It was definitely an improvement. We haven’t been at our usual standard, but it was good to see that back today.”
Elsewhere in League One, Shayne Lavery extended his scoring streak to three games, however, his effort could not prevent Cambridge United losing 3-2 at home to Plymouth Argyle and suffering their first league defeat in nine matches.
In the Championship, Pierce Charles kept his third clean sheet of the season and Paul Smyth weighed in with an assist as QPR chalked up their biggest win of the season with a 5-0 victory at home to Swansea City.
Northern Ireland international Rebecca McKenna was named in the Birmingham City starting XI that earned their first WSL victory of the campaign—a hard-fought 1-0 home win over Ellie Mason’s Charlton Athletic, who remain bottom of the table.
In the Women’s FA Cup, Kerry Beattie was on target as Portsmouth Women progressed to the next stage of the competition following their comfortable 4-0 victory at home to Cheltenham Town.
Finally, Ceadach O’Neill scored in Arsenal U21's 4-1 loss to Leicester City, Luke Hawe struck twice for Southampton U18’s, and Alfie Pollock netted for the second week running for Sunderland U18’s.
