Notts County sacked manager Martin Allen after the Magpies’ 3-0 loss at Hartlepool on Saturday.

County were generally available at 15/8 in the north-east but a double from Antony Sweeney and a late effort from Andy Monkhouse condemned the visitors to defeat.

Allen leaves with the Nottingham club well placed in the top half of the division and in with an outside chance of a play-off spot.

Currently eight points shy of the top six, Victo Chandler and Stan James offer 66/1 on them winning promotion but Coral made them 28s prior to the weekend’s fixture.

Gary Megson didn’t enjoy his afternoon much either, as his Sheffield Wednesday side went down 1-0 at lowly Chesterfield, as we suggested they might.

The Spireites landed odds of 13/5 to boost their survival hopes, with Dean Morgan hitting the winner from the spot 12 minutes from time.

Stan James now have the Owls at 14/5 to win promotion; they have fallen five points behind second-placed Sheffield United, who saw off Preston on Saturday.

Despite their victory, Chesterfield remain four points from safety and 1/2 to suffer relegation. That’s because their rivals enjoyed good days too.

2/1 Rochdale edged past Bournemouth to move off the bottom while 12/5 Scunthorpe claimed a 3-1 success at Leyton Orient. Exeter, too, gave themselves breathing space after defeating Bury 3-2 at St James’ Park.

Meanwhile, Walsall had Kevan Hurst and George Bowerman to thank for their 2-0 defeat of fellow-strugglers Wycombe.

Wanderers’ third successive loss leaves them bottom of the pile and William Hill’s 1/4 favourites for the drop. Scunny are now 7/2 with Bet365 after their win lifted them three points clear of the bottom four.

Elsewhere, leaders Charlton were held at Tranmere while there were also valuable victories for MK Dons and Yeovil.

Results: Chesterfield 1-0 Sheff Wed, Exeter 3-2 Bury, Hartlepool 3-0 Notts County, Leyton Orient 1-3 Scunthorpe, MK Dons 5-0 Oldham, Rochdale 1-0 Bournemouth, Sheff Utd 2-1 Preston, Tranmere 1-1 Charlton, Walsall 2-0 Wycombe, Yeovil 3-2 Colchester