Reality bites for City and Grimsby

That football never lets a team rest on its laurels was brought home to Manchester City and Grimsby Town, two First Division sides who had achieved fine Worthington Cup wins in midweek.

City, who humbled Birmingham 6-0 in their third-round tie, had to come from behind twice against bottom-of-the-table Stockport County to earn a point at Maine Road. Darren Huckerby, who scored four against Brum, had already had a goal disallowed when County scored five minutes into the second half through Glyn Hurst. They led for all of a minute, Ali Benarbi levelling. A Shefki Kuqi 68th-minute penalty after Danny Tiatto felled Hurst put County back in front but Shaun Goater's 14th goal of the season saved inconsistent City's blushes and it ended 2-2.

City manager Kevin Keegan said Huckerby's goal should have stood – "I don't think the referee was good today. I don't care what the FA say, he was poor". But his opposite number, Andy Kilner, made himself something of a hostage to fortune when he said: "It's an absolute racing certainty that we won't go out of the division this year."

Grimsby Town, Worthington Cup conquerors of Liverpool at Anfield, lost 3-1 at Sheffield United. Two Patrick Suffo goals set up the Blades' win. Michael Brown added the third, Menno Willems got the visitors' late consolation. "This team's problem is mental," the Mariners' manager, Lennie Lawrence, decided. "Concentration levels were woeful. You expect a dip in form after Liverpool because if they could keep that up they wouldn't be at this club."

Second-placed Burnley lost 1-0 at Nottingham Forest. The Midlanders dominated the first half but had to wait until the 79th minute for Chris Bart-Williams' winner. "Bart could have left us for Birmingham a month ago but when the deal fell through I knew I still had a good player on my hands," Forest's grateful manager, Paul Hart, said.

Norwich City had lost three consecutive away games before yesterday's 2-0 win at Gillingham. The Canaries hit the woodwork three times but Iwan Roberts eventually got lucky with a powerful header and a fine individual second goal. Norwich go third.

At Vicarage Road, Watford beat Sheffield Wednesday 3-1, Micah Hyde, Gifton Noel-Williams and Heidar Helguson on target. Crewe beat Preston North End 2-1. Dean Ashton, on as substitute for midfielder Phil Charnock after 28 minutes, got Alex's first four minutes later but Mark Rankine seemed to have earned Preston a point with an equaliser on the hour. Steve Foster had other ideas with an extra-time winner.

In the lower divisions there has been much managerial movement in the week. Brighton, third in the Second Division, saw manager Micky Adams move to Leicester City, but still won 2-1 at Huddersfield Town, Bobby Zamora on target again. Notts County, who sacked Jocky Scott last week and made Gary Brazil head coach, went down 1-0 at Stoke City. Brentford offered free admission to spectators – 11,097 took them up on it – and treated them to a 2-1 defeat of Peterborough, which lifted the Bees to top spot after Oldham lost 1-0 at home to Bristol City.

In the Third Division, Alan Little, appointed manager of Halifax Town on Friday, now has some idea of the task at hand after his new charges crashed 3-0 at fourth-placed Plymouth Argyle, while Southend United, whose manager David Webb resigned last week, hosted Swansea City, who in the week attempted to sell, sack or cut the wages of the majority of their squad. The Welsh side's spirit was not entirely crushed, but they lost 4-2. Luton Town's 2-1 win at Scunthorpe United lifted them to the top.