Sam Johnson- Micky Adams handed Johnson his league-debut just a day before the youngster turned 21 and he didn’t disappoint. Chris Neal injured his wrist in training on Friday and is expected to be out for at least a month giving Johnson a real chance to show his potential to Adams. Vale’s debutant wasn’t overly worked by Walsall this weekend but dealt with everything comfortably keeping a clean sheet and helping his side come away with three points from the Bank’s stadium.
Joe Jacobson- Jacobson is having the best scoring season of his career and added another at the weekend. The game was delicately poised at 1-2 but in the 51st minute Jacobson rose highest to head home Darren Jones’ cross and secure Shrewsbury’s first away league win since March.
Jack King- Perhaps a game that many expected Preston to win more comfortably the lilywhites managed to grind out a 1-0 win in an evenly fought contest. Jack King was solid throughout and put his side a goal up inside 33 minutes with a brave header in a packed area. It became a heated affair as the game went on with both sides finishing with ten men but crucially Preston coming away with the three points.
Michael Bostwick- Fine margins often separate top teams and that was the case at London road on Saturday afternoon. In a game which was probably shaded by the away side the one moment of quality came from the Peterborough centre-half who fired home a 79th minute free-kick that secured all three points for the hosts. This was Peterborough’s only shot on target but Ferguson will be hoping they can build on this fantastic result and regain that confidence they had at the start of the campaign.
Carl Dickinson- An away clean sheet is always a good accomplishment and one that Dickinson can take from his performance at Walsall this weekend. Similarly to his keeper, Dickinson was solid throughout and his long-throwing abilities were utilised to great effect to seal the points for Vale. His long throw set up Gavin Tomlin who netted Vale’s second, this was his first of the campaign after missing most of the season through injury.
Dean Cox- I am fully aware that Cox has featured most of the season out on the left hand side but due to quality of his strike this weekend he has to make it into the team of the week. Sheffield United were resilient but with eight minutes to go Cox struck one of the goals of the weekend on the volley to send Orient back to the summit. A fabulous strike that fittingly has nudged Orient back top and ahead of Wolves on goal difference.
James Wallace- Tranmere captain Wallace feared he’d never play again back in September but after featuring against Coventry, Wolves and Colchester at the weekend will hope the worst is behind him. He is vital for Tranmere and their dip in form last season coincided with the absence of the centre midfielder. Rovers will be confident they can continue to move away from the bottom four if they can keep Wallace fit for a sustained period of time. Sam Walker made a fine save to deny the captain a goal but Rovers did secure the three points with a brace from the veteran Ryan Lowe.
Alex Pritchard- Possibly one of the first names on the sheet this week after a stunning display in Swindon’s midfield. The Tottenham loanee set up the first goal after some good play out wide before finding a pass which enabled Massimo Luongo to tuck the ball inside the near post and open the scoring at the County ground. Carlisle equalised with 20 minutes to go but just minutes later Pritchard put the home side back in front with a superb set piece and eased the nerves around the ground.
Ben Pringle- Pringle was instrumental in Rotherham’s dominant display over Gillingham at the weekend and gave Gills right-back Michael Harriman a torrid afternoon. His cross managed to find Alex Revell who nodded the ball down towards Kieran Agard, who finished with aplomb for Rotherham’s second. Pringle then sealed the game with a fantastic solo effort, picking the ball up on the half-way line and carrying it to the edge of the Gills box before firing into the bottom corner and putting the Millers out of sight at 3-0 after just 35 minutes.
Chris Maguire- It was a debut to savour for Maguire who only joined the sky blues on loan last week, coming off the bench to secure a vital win for Coventry at the weekend. In front of 7,000 travelling fans the Scotland international netted two stunning free-kicks in the 86th and 90th minute to send the travelling contingency into raptures. A much needed win for Coventry who hadn’t won in the league since the 2nd of November.
Ryan Lowe- Lowe once again finds himself in the team of the week after the weekend’s performance where he netted a brace in Tranmere’s victory over Colchester. The first a simple header from a corner, his second of the afternoon was a cool penalty from the spot which takes his tally to 12 for the season. Rovers will need Lowe to keep firing the goals in if they are to steer clear of trouble and push away from the bottom four.
