SECOND-HALF goals from Sam Finley, Sean McConville and Jordan Clarke saw Accrington return to winning ways in the league with a 3-0 success at Plymouth, whose defeat saw them overtaken by the Bantams as they climbed out of the bottom four.

As well as City beating Scunthorpe, two of the other sides in the drop zone triumphed.

James Clarke's injury-time strike gave managerless Bristol Rovers a 2-1 home win against Fleetwood. Ashley Hunter opened the scoring for Fleetwood, who later had Ched Evans sent off, but goals from Gavin Reilly and Clarke turned the game on its head.

It was also 2-1 at Adams Park where AFC Wimbledon took the three points against Wycombe. Kwesi Appiah and Jake Jervis, in the 90th minute, were on target for the Dons. Fred Onyedinma pulled a goal back in injury time.

Rochdale, who the Bantams visit on Saturday, won 2-1 at Southend. Michael Williams gave the visitors the half-time lead and it looked like John White's 81st-minute equaliser would earn the Shrimpers a point, before Callum Camps headed the winner three minutes from time.

At the other end of the table, Ronan Curtis scored his eighth goal of the season to help League One leaders Portsmouth beat promotion rivals Sunderland 3-1 at a sold-out Fratton Park.

Former Bantam Gareth Evans put Pompey ahead from the penalty spot at the start of the second half after Glenn Loovens was sent off for bringing down Oli Hawkins when he was clean through on goal.

Curtis extended the lead after 53 minutes but Luke O'Nien quickly responded for Sunderland, whom City visit on Boxing Day. The Black Cats' comeback hopes were ended after 63 minutes when Ben Thompson made it 3-1 with a deflected shot.

Luton remain on Portsmouth's coat-tails in second place after goals from Jack Stacey and James Collins, from the penalty spot, gave them a 2-0 home victory over Carabao Cup semi-finalists Burton.

Charlton are up a place to fourth after first-half goals from Ben Reeves and Tariqe Fosu saw them defeat Gillingham 2-0 at The Valley.

The Addicks went above Peterborough, who drew 1-1 at home with Walsall. It could have been worse for Posh, though, as Andy Cook saw his penalty saved by Conor O'Malley in injury time. Earlier, Ivan Toney cancelled out Isaiah Osbourne's opening goal for the Saddlers.

There was also late drama at the Keepmoat Stadium between Doncaster and Oxford as each team scored in injury time in a 2-2 draw.

Ben Whiteman's penalty put Rovers ahead before Gavin Whyte equalised. Alfie May thought he had won it for the hosts but Josh Ruffels levelled things up again in the seventh minute of added time.

That late goal cost Doncaster their place in the play-off positions as Yorkshire rivals Barnsley moved into sixth thanks to Cameron McGeehan's header in a 1-0 win at Blackpool.

Aaron Amadi-Holloway headed the only goal as Shrewsbury beat Coventry 1-0.