Coventry City boosted their hopes of surviving in League One with a shock victory over promotion-chasing MK Dons at the Ricoh Arena.

The Sky Blues, who sacked Steven Pressley as manager this week, went ahead in the ninth minute through Forest Green Rovers loanee Chris Stokes before Dominic Samuel doubled their advantage soon after.

Daniel Powell pulled a goal back for the Dons, but Coventry were able to hold on for a victory that pulls them out of the bottom four.

The Dons' defeat helped Preston North End close the gap on the top two places as the Lilywhites cruised to a win at Oldham Athletic.

Goals from Paul Huntingdon, Daniel Johnson, Joe Garner and Jermaine Beckford saw Simon Grayson's side move level on points with the Buckinghamshire club and ahead of Swindon Town, who were held to a draw by Crewe Alexandra.

Leaders Bristol City also took the opportunity to extend their lead at the top of the table as Aaron Wilbraham scored his first goal at Ashton Gate since August, and his 14th of the season, as the Robins beat Rochdale.

In a fierce battle to reach the playoffs, fifth-placed Sheffield United missed the chance to put daylight between themselves and the chasing pack after they needed a late Marc McNulty penalty to rescue a point at Crawley Town.

Doncaster Rovers move into the top six after a slender victory against Colchester United, with Enda Stevens and a Nathan Tyson spot kick seeing the Vikings to three points at the Keepmoat Stadium.

Chesterfield are three points behind Rovers, but showed their credentials for a playoff place with a comfortable 3-0 win over Fleetwood Town.

The Spireites leapfrog Bradford City, who may have had an upcoming FA Cup quarter-final on their mind when Gabriel Zakuani and a late Michael Bostwick penalty saw Peterborough United beat the Bantams in their first game since the sacking of Darren Ferguson as manager.

Port Vale are also three points away from a playoff place after Mark Marshall's early strike saw them to victory at Notts County.

Lee Johnson's first game in charge of Barnsley saw them beat a recently-resurgent Gillingham at the Priestfield Stadium, with George Waring scoring the only goal.

Second-half strikes from Ryan Hedges and Chris Dagnall helped ease Leyton Orient's recent woes as they beat Walsall, although the O's remain in the bottom four.

Yeovil Town are four points adrift at the bottom of the table after a Hakeeb Adelakun goal saw Scunthorpe United snatch a draw at Glanford Park.

Results in full: Bristol City 1–0 Rochdale, Chesterfield 3–0 Fleetwood Town, Coventry City 2–1 MK Dons, Crawley Town 1–1 Sheffield United, Crewe Alexandra 0–0 Swindon Town, Doncaster Rovers 2–0 Colchester United, Gillingham 0–1 Barnsley, Notts County 0–1 Port Vale, Oldham Athletic 0–4 Preston North End, Peterborough United 2–0 Bradford City, Scunthorpe United 1–1 Yeovil Town, Walsall 0–2 Leyton Orient