League One: Rivals increase Carlisle United's gap to safety

Reading's victory at promotion-chasing Stevenage meant the Blues' survival task got even harder.

The Royals' 1-0 win, courtesy of Vadaine Oliver's own-goal, took Ruben Selles' side out of the relegation zone and up to fifth bottom on 31 points.

Replacing them in the bottom four are managerless Port Vale, who suffered a 1-0 home defeat to in-form Leyton Orient.

Idris El Mizouni hit the only goal for the ninth-placed Os at Vale Park to inflict a third straight defeat on the Valiants, who sacked boss Andy Crosby on Monday and are under the caretaker stewardship of Will Ryder, Matt Done and Danny Lloyd.

Idris El Mizouni's goal for Leyton Orient sent Port Vale into the drop zone (Image: PA)

Vale are on 30 points, ten in front of bottom side Carlisle, with ex-Lincoln City boss Mark Kennedy the early bookies' favourite to replace Crosby, and Gareth Ainsworth, Gary Bowyer and Mark Bonner among others on the list of contenders. 

Fellow strugglers Fleetwood Town continued a mini-revival by winning 2-0 at Bristol Rovers.

They moved up to third bottom as goals from Ronan Coughlan and Jayden Stockley earned a second win in four days for Charlie Adam's side.

Carlisle are now three points adrift at the bottom with Cheltenham Town now second-bottom after their game at Burton Albion fell victim to a waterlogged pitch.

Another game in the division also fell foul of the weather with a heavy downpour causing Cambridge United's home clash with Bolton Wanderers to be abandoned.

The other game that did go ahead saw Exeter City claim a 2-1 win over high-flying Peterborough United.

A pair of own-goals, from Nicholas Bilokapic and Jadel Katongo, saw the Grecians overhaul Harrison Burrows' penalty for Posh, and take Exeter up to 14th.

Carlisle return to action this weekend against leaders Portsmouth at Brunton Park.