Cort does Canaries a favour

Former Norwich City striker Carl Cort did his old club a favour yesterday when his goal helped restrict second-placed Charlton to their third League One draw in a row.

In a thrilling, end-to-end London derby, Cort gave the Bees the lead two minutes after coming on at the break when he diverted Marcus Bean's cross-shot home from close range.

But Charlton took just 10 minutes to level at Griffin Park when Chris Dickson was brought down in the box by 'keeper Lewis Price. Nicky Bailey drilled the spot-kick into the roof of the net to set up a grandstand finale.

Substitute Sam Saunders almost won the game for Brentford in the 75th minute when his curling free-kick smashed against the bar.

Charlton remain second, but are just three points ahead of the Canaries, who have a game in hand and a better goal difference.

With City left idle by their postponement at Walsall, Colchester moved level on points with them - from the same number of games - after their fourth successive win, a 2-1 triumph over Southampton.

The U's took the lead in the 23rd minute when Kevin Lisbie's low pass picked out the on-rushing Anthony Wordsworth, who coolly slotted a low shot past Saints goalkeeper Bartosz Bialkowski from close range.

Steven Gillespie doubled the hosts' lead 15 minutes from time before Rickie Lambert grabbed a stoppage-time consolation from the penalty spot after Dean Hammond had been fouled by Colchester goalkeeper Ben Williams.

Huddersfield boosted their promotion chances with a 1-0 defeat of play-off rivals MK Dons.

Anthony Pilkington grabbed the only goal of the game.

Swindon replaced the Dons in the play-off positions thanks to a 3-1 victory over Yeovil.

Steve Morison's seventh goal in as many games helped Millwall - beaten at Norwich on Boxing Day - get their play-off hunt back on track with a 2-0 victory over Bristol Rovers at The New Den.

In yesterday's early kick-off, Leeds won 4-2 at Stockport and are eight points clear of Charlton and 11 ahead of Norwich and Colchester.