Matt Cox kept his third clean sheet of the season on Saturday to help Bristol Rovers extend their unbeaten run to five matches in all competitions.

Since Joey Barton’s departure late last month, Rovers have taken seven points from nine to move back into play-off contention in Sky Bet League One. Saturday’s success at Carlisle United came courtesy of Sam Lavelle’s 38th-minute own goal.

The Gas had to play the final 17 minutes with 10 men after Tristan Crama was shown a straight red card for denying a goalscoring opportunity.

Despite that, Cox and his team-mates held on to move up to 10th, just four points off the play-off spots.

That win followed Tuesday’s 1-1 league draw at Reading which saw Cox play the full 90, while Crama was a late substitute.

Cox will not be available for Tuesday night’s EFL Trophy tie against Newport County due to his England Under-21 call-up. Crama can play, as his suspension will not be enforced until Rovers’ next league match in a fortnight’s time.

Paris Maghoma was on target as Bolton Wanderers won 2-0 against Shrewsbury Town last Tuesday.

After a goalless opening 65 minutes, Maghoma’s shot from the edge of the penalty area squirmed past Marko Marosi and in to give Wanderers the advantage. The game was made safe in the eighth minute of stoppage-time thanks to Aaron Morley.

Then on Saturday Maghoma played 73 minutes as Bolton made it five wins from five in the third tier with a 1-0 victory over Blackpool. The only goal came shortly after Maghoma was withdrawn through George Thomason.

Bolton are now only outside the automatic promotion places on goal difference heading into Tuesday’s EFL Trophy trip to Stockport.

Fin Stevens and Oxford United still occupy the place above Bolton after a pair of victories of their own this week.

Stevens got an assist on Tuesday night as the U’s beat Chelsea Under-21s 5-0 to book their progress through to the knockout stages of the EFL Trophy.

Then on Saturday, Stevens played the full 90 in their dramatic 3-2 win at Leyton Orient.

Due to international call-ups, of which Stevens is one with Wales Under-21s, Oxford now have a fortnight without a game.

Ryan Trevitt played the full 90 minutes for Exeter City as their slide down the third-tier table continued with a 3-0 defeat at Fleetwood Town.

The defeat, a ninth in 10 matches in all competitions, leaves Exeter in 20th, just a point above the drop zone.

There was better news for Trevitt personally as he picked up both Exeter’s Player and Goal of the Month awards for October, and was nominated for the Carabao Cup Player and Goal of the Month award following his spectacular brace against Middlesbrough.

Daniel Oyegoke was forced off just 17 minutes after coming on for Bradford in their 2-1 home defeat to Barrow.

The defender was introduced midway through the first half but then had to go off injured just before the break.

The Bantams travel to Notts County in the fourth tier on Saturday.

There were contrasting stoppage-time fortunes for Ben Winterbottom and Welling United last week.

On Tuesday, Charlie Naylor’s 98th-minute goal denied the Wings all three points at Dover Athletic in a 2-2 draw.

Then on Saturday, Taylor Curran struck a minute into stoppage-time as Welling shaded a seven-goal thriller at home to Slough Town.

Unbeaten in five league matches, Welling travel to Braintree Town in the National League South on Tuesday before hosting Taunton Town in the FA Trophy at the weekend.