LOAN WATCH : WILSON AND FLETCHER ON TARGET
Manchester United strikers James Wilson and Ashley Fletcher were both on the scoresheet as the Football League season entered its decisive phase.
Wilson came off the bench to rescue a point for Brighton & Hove Albion with a dramatic equaliser deep into stoppage time against Derby County. The England Under-21 international fired home with the help of a deflection after Seagulls keeper David Stockdale joined the attack.
Despite the strike earning a draw for 10-man Albion and extending an unbeaten run to 13 games in the Championship, victory is still required on the final day at Middlesbrough in order to gain automatic promotion to the Barclays Premier League alongside Burnley.
"We’re disappointed but, as the manager said, if we had gone into the season knowing we needed one win to get automatic promotion, we'd bite your hand off," Wilson told The Argus.
"You could ask a lot of players and everyone would say something different. Personally I would rather need to win, because everyone starts getting nervous in the last 20 minutes if it’s still 0-0. I’d prefer to go up there and give it a good go."
Ashley Fletcher went one better by scoring twice for Barnsley in a 2-2 draw with Colchester United. An equaliser eight minutes into injury time means the Tykes are not yet guaranteed a play-off spot in League One, particularly when facing already-promoted Wigan Athletic at the weekend in the season finale.
However, the striker was outstanding and his first goal was a thing of beauty, including a nutmeg on Tom Eastman en route to firing home.
"That's probably his most consistent game from 0-90 minutes," Barnsley manager Paul Heckingbottom told The Sheffield Star . "He did well. Fletch was really positive and buoyant before the game and you sensed that he'd have a good game.
"Luckily, he got the two goals and most of our good play and opportunities were through our individual quality - whether it was a delivery, a run or a bit of skill.
"I thought he was good [in the] first half last week against Sheffield United and we spoke about that and how he can replicate that form over longer periods. And he did it, so fair play to him. He’s got some real good attributes and the more time he's spending here with us, the more he's learning how to be effective in the game using those attributes."
Meanwhile, United goalkeeper Dean Henderson picked up the Man-of-the-Match award for Stockport County in a 0-0 draw with Curzon Ashton in their last game of the National League North campaign. In addition to a couple of saves from point-blank range, he also denied Jonathan Hunt when the Curzon player seemed set to plunder a winner in the closing stages.
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