AIDY BOOTHROYD blasted referee Steven Cook after Wycombe scored the stoppage-time equaliser which kept Town three points behind fellow League I play-off chasers Colchester.

U’s boss and former Town player Boothroyd claimed Gareth Ainsworth steered Matt Phillip’ cross past goalkeeper Ben Williams with his hand.

Colchester, current occupants of the final play-off berth, had been ahead through Ian Henderson’s 59th-minute shot but had to make to with a 1-1 draw.

And Boothroyd said: "When you’re on a promotion run-in with nine games to go, you have to rely on referees and linesman to get things correct and it’s a blatantly incorrect decision.

"He has handballed it but you can’t have a go at the player for that. That’s what he’s got to do.

"He has done that to try and make the referee and linesman make a decision and they’ve made an abysmal one. It’s cost us three points."

Ainsworth, whose second-bottom side host Town on Saturday, said: "It hit my hand but it was unintentional."

Swindon leapfrogged Charlton into fourth, eight points in front of Town, with a 1-0 win at Hartlepool sealed by Charlie Austin’s 16th goal of the season in the 22nd minute.

In the battle of the top two at Carrow Road, Chris Martin headed home an 89th-minute winner, his 21st goal of the campaign, as leaders Norwich claimed a 1-0 win over Leeds, who had Tresor Kandol red carded in stoppage time.

Despite topping the table by eight points at the turn of the year, a run of 15 points from 15 games since has left them clinging onto second place by a single goal from in-form Millwall.

While Simon Grayson's men were sliding to defeat at Norwich - who extended their lead to 11 points - the Lions hammered rock-bottom Stockport 5-0.

Millwall cruised to victory at The New Den through Danny Swailes, Steve Morison, ex-Town man Danny Schofield, Jon Obika and an own goal.

Bristol Rovers went eighth, four points behind Town, after winning a seven-goal thriller against Southend, who stay rooted in the drop zone.

Scott Vernon and Scott Spencer gave visitors Southend a 2-0 lead inside two minutes but Rovers hit back to lead 3-2.

After Vernon's equaliser, Rovers claimed the points through a stoppage-time own goal from Anthony Grant.

The biggest beneficiaries at the bottom were Exeter, who started the day third from bottom but jumped four places after a 2-1 win over Walsall.

Tranmere plunged into the bottom four after a dismal 3-0 defeat at mid-table Brighton.