Charlton Athletic striker Josh Magennis came off the bench to score his ninth goal of the season as the Addicks improved their chances of a play-off place in League One with a comfortable 4-0 victory at Northampton Town on Good Friday.
Magennis ended his four-match run without a goal when he headed home Charlton’s fourth on 79 mins from a cross from fellow Northern Ireland International Ben Reeves.
Midfielder Reeves had opened the visitor’s account when he nodded home on 14 minutes admitting after the game that scoring with his head is a very rare occurrence.
“It’s the first header I’ve ever scored,” said Reeves, who won the last of his two international caps against Scotland in 2015. “I’ve scored a few but I’ve never scored with my head. It was nice to finally get one.
The 26-year-old midfielder who has struggled to hold down a regular starting place in the Charlton side since joining them last summer from MK Dons added: “I still know I can play a lot better than that as well though, so it is just a good sign that I’m getting better and better.
“That’s my first three games in a row this season, which is important for me.
“It’s a shame I haven’t been able to do that all season but hopefully coming into the most important part of the season I can keep going.”
Also in League One, on-loan striker Caolan Lavery scored his first of the season as Rotherham United drew 1-1 at home with Peterborough United while Will Grigg took his tally for the campaign to 19 when he opened the scoring in Wigan’s 3-0 win over Oldham Athletic.
However Latics boss Paul Cook admitted he may have to do without Grigg’s services for today’s visit to Portsmouth after the 26-year-old was replaced at half-time against Oldham.
“Will has been struggling with his calf lately and he proposed to come off at half-time,” Cook told the official Wigan website. “He is having a great season and scored a quality first goal, the last thing we want would be to lose Will for the rest of the season.”
Meanwhile, in the Premier League, defender Craig Cathcart ended his seven-month injury nightmare when he came on as a substitute to play his first game for Watford in their 2-2 draw with Bournemouth at Vicarage Road on Saturday.
Elsewhere in the top flight Steven Davis’ persistent hamstring complaint forced him to miss Southampton’s 3-0 defeat at West Ham United, a result which leaves the Saints in the bottom three two points from safety.
Chris Brunt and Jonny Evans, who provided the assist for the Baggies consolation, both played the full ninety minutes while defender Gareth McAuley was an unused substitute.
