Louis van Gaal says the competitiveness of English football means it is unsurprising that Manchester United have not won the FA Cup in over a decade.

‘We have created a lot of chances but failed to score’ appears to be the line which has come out of the majority of Louis van Gaal’s post-match interviews this year.

The Football League’s announcement that it will be rebranded itself as the American-sounding ‘EFL’ from next season will do little to halt the growing apathy among supporters.

Goals from Rhys Bennett and Jack O’Connell gave Rochdale a 2-1 victory over Yeovil Town on Saturday to put Keith Hill’s men sixth in League One with a game in hand on their closest rivals, only increasing the expectation of promotion surrounding the club.

Former Oldham Athletic manager Lee Johnson came back to haunt his old side as Barnsley brushed aside the 10-man Latics 3-1.

Oldham Athletic interim manager Dean Holden has warned his players not to get too ‘emotionally involved’ when they face former boss Lee Johnson’s new side Barnsley on Saturday.

Carl Winchester had put Oldham ahead on the stroke of half-time, but Joel Grant’s equaliser ten minutes after the break and Hayter’s late winner mean Oldham have now lost four of the last five.

The former Oldham Athletic captain took temporary charge at the League One side when ex-manager Lee Johnson left for Barnsley last month.

Oldham scored two goals in two first-half minutes as they eased to a comfortable and well-deserved 3-0 win at home to Notts County.

Manager Lee Johnson expects this week’s developments in the Ched Evans saga will not deter fans from getting behind his team as they face Doncaster Rovers, the Latics looking to start afresh after a torrid end to 2014.

First half-goals from Stephen Arthurworrey, Simon Gillett, and Sam Hoskins saw the away side race into a 3-0 lead at half-time before Kieffer Moore completed the rout.