Bristol City must wait to secure promotion to the Championship after Preston North End held them to a 1-1 draw at Deepdale this afternoon.

Jermaine Beckford's second-half strike had given the Lilywhites hope of a victory that would close the gap on the Robins at the top of the table.

However, Aaron Wilbraham's 63rd-minute equaliser ensured that City retain an eight-point lead over second-placed Preston.

MK Dons' hopes of catching Preston in the automatic promotion places were dented after Port Vale ended a run of six successive defeats, by holding Karl Robinson's men to a goalless draw in the Potteries.

Swindon Town's own push for a top-two finish received a timely boost when Jermaine Hylton's late strike ensured the Wiltshire club beat mid-table Peterborough United at the County Ground. Swindon are now five points behind North End with a game in hand.

At the bottom of the table, Yeovil Town have been relegated to League Two after Garry Thompson's late header ensured fellow strugglers Notts County earned a point at Huish Park. Yeovil needed to win against the Magpies to stand any chance of survival.

County are only one point adrift of safety after Crawley Town were beaten 2-1 at Scunthorpe United, with Paddy Madden scoring the winner for the Yorkshiremen.

Crewe Alexandra remain in the bottom four on goal difference behind Crawley and 19th-placed Leyton Orient after Darius Henderson's goal ensured the O's picked up a point against the Railwaymen.

Colchester United are now three points off safety following their narrow away defeat against Coventry City, with Jim O'Brien's first-half goal easing the Sky Blues' relegation fears.

Walsall have also moved a step closer to survival after a late Tom Bradshaw strike ensured that the West Midlands outfit picked a slender victory over Fleetwood Town.

Oldham Athletic's faint hopes of securing a place in the playoffs appear all but over after they threw away a two-goal lead to draw with fifth-placed Sheffield United.

Dominic Poleon's first-half brace had looked to have given the Latics control at Boundary Park, but goals from Jason Holt and Jamie Murphy ensured that Nigel Clough's men left with a share of the spoils.

Sixth-placed Chesterfield have retained a four-point cushion over the chasing pack in the race for the playoffs after they earned a point against local rivals Barnsley at Oakwell.

Rochdale needed a 59th-minute equaliser from Ian Henderson to earn a draw against Doncaster Rovers. Keith Hill's men remain in seventh.

Bradford City's bid for a top-six finish were dented as John Marquis scored late on to give Gillingham a victory that moves them into the top half of the division.

Scores in full: Barnsley 1-1 Chesterfield, Coventry City 1-0 Colchester United, Crewe Alexandra 1-1 Leyton Orient, Doncaster Rovers 1-1 Rochdale, Gillingham 1-0 Bradford City, Oldham Athletic 2-2 Sheffield United, Port Vale 0-0 MK Dons, Preston North End 1-1 Bristol City, Scunthorpe United 2-1 Crawley Town, Swindon Town 1-0 Peterborough United, Walsall 1-0 Fleetwood Town, Yeovil Town 1-1 Notts County