L1: Colchester sent down

Colchester’s relegation from Sky Bet League One was confirmed by a 3-0 home defeat to Burton, whose first win in seven featured a Lucas Akins hat-trick and kept their title hopes alive.

Colchester, who last season survived the drop on the final day of the campaign, went into the game with only slim hopes of repeating the trick and their chances took a major nosedive when they were reduced to 10 men in the 17th minute following Joe Edwards’ red card for a foul on Damien McCrory.

Burton took full advantage and Akins’ first career hat-trick – capped by a wonderful strike on the hour – kept them three points behind league leaders Wigan and condemned Colchester to League Two for the first time since 2004.

Wigan maintained their three-point advantage over the Brewers at the top with a 4-1 home victory against Southend to all but guarantee a return to the Sky Bet Championship.

Chris McCann and Michael Jacobs scored either side of a Will Grigg double, his 25th and 26th goals of the season, before a Craig Morgan own goal denied Wigan a clean sheet.

Walsall are the only side who can deny the Latics promotion but it would take a huge goal difference swing as well as the Saddlers winning their three remaining games and Wigan losing the two they have left.

Walsall did …

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