Gillingham manager Neil Harris felt his team were “miles better” than Morecambe in their 2-1 win that returned them to the top of the League Two table.

George Lapslie fired the hosts in front from close range early on, but the visitors equalised two minutes later through leading scorer Michael Mellon.

Connor Mahoney wrapped up the win after 24 minutes with a sensational curling effort that soared into the top corner.

Mellon was later dismissed for a second yellow card and Harris felt his side could have been out of sight by half-time.

“I’m delighted to win the game,” he said. “I thought we were miles better than the opponent.

“I’m really disappointed with the goal we conceded, but other than that the first-half performance was the best in my time at the football club.

“We dominated and we should have been four or five up.

“We worked all week on our attacking play and the chances we created today were clear-cut. How the game only has a one-goal swing is bizarre.

“We scored two really good goals. The first, from a set piece, was something we organised on the training pitch. The second was a moment of magic from Connor.

“With young players in the team, we’ll turn the ball over at times and we’ll make judgement errors.

“We conceded a really sloppy goal today when we’ve had a clean-sheet mentality at the club.

“There were moments where the youngsters could have taken a bit more control today, but experienced players like Shaun Williams and Scott Malone gave us the composure and quality we needed.”

But Derek Adams said Morecambe were “well in” the game.

“If Gillingham are the team who are top of the league at this moment of time, then we don’t have an awful lot to fear. That’s plain and obvious,” he said.

“For large spells of the game, even when we went down to 10 men, we had good opportunities. We didn’t feel that we were under great pressure.

“It was a strange game because we were well in it. We conceded from a set-play, but then Michael scores a great goal and at 1-1 we looked like the team in the ascendancy.

“We had some really good moments in the game. Then we allow their player to come in off the sideline and shoot into the top corner, but even then, it was a game that we still could have got back in to.”

On Mellon’s sending-off, Adams added: “He’s going over the top and trying to have a shot, but he and the defender collide at the same time.

“I’ve spoken to the referee, and I’ve watched it on the video, and it’s not a second yellow card.”

Sheffield United boss Paul Heckingbottom let rip into Premier League officiating after he watched his team concede twice in stoppage time to lose 2-1 at Tottenham.

The Blades were on course for a maiden win since their return to the Premier League after Gustavo Hamer fired them in front after 73 minutes in the capital.

A minimum of 12 minutes were added on at the end of the 90 and Spurs punished the newly-promoted side, with Richarlison levelling in the eighth added minute before Dejan Kulusevski grabbed a dramatic winner two minutes later.

There was still time for Oli McBurnie to receive his marching orders for a second yellow card and the United manager bemoaned the display of referee Peter Bankes following their latest last-gasp defeat.

“Something needs to be done now and this is not me moaning. I said it (at) half-time and when we were 1-0 up as well. The focus is on time-wasting, so the referees are dictating how we play,” Heckingbottom insisted.

“We set up from the back, then Spurs push forward and then that dictates how we play, but no, we’re just told to play long. You can’t do it.

“Wes (Foderingham) got a yellow card for handling outside the box and then got threatened with a sending-off (for time-wasting) you can’t do it.

“The officiating is appalling and it’s not about the football decisions. It’s just game management.

“My worry is all the focus is on yellow cards for time-wasting and when I talked to the referees, they haven’t got a clue what I’m talking about. They’re officiating the game, they simply do not know the game.

“We need to sort that and sort that quick. It’s ruining the spectacle and then to sum it all up we get Oli McBurnie sent off for telling the referee someone is pulling his shirt.

“We’ve just seen someone lead with an elbow into our goalkeeper who needs stitches and that’s the same offence. What’s going on? Seriously what’s going on with our game?”

It was a different story for Tottenham after a euphoric victory inspired by substitute Richarlison following a difficult week.

Richarlison had been pictured in tears after being substituted in Brazil’s 5-1 win over Bolivia and revealed in midweek that he would seek “psychological help” following a turbulent time in his personal life.

After scoring only once in the Premier League last season following his £60million switch from Everton last summer, Richarlison grabbed the leveller with a header from Ivan Perisic’s corner to set up a grandstand finish in N17.

Two minutes later and a slick team move ended with Richarlison teeing up Kulusevski, who fired through Jack Robinson’s legs to spark wild celebrations before Spurs captain Son Heung-min urged the Brazilian to soak up the applause at full-time.

“Richy was great,” Tottenham head coach Ange Postecoglou said.

“I thought all the subs who came on really helped, but that’s been a consistent theme.

“Yeah for Richy, I think it’s the point I was trying to make yesterday. For him to understand that you try and maintain a balance in life and his football hasn’t been that bad. He’s still been contributing for us.

“Sometimes when you struggle with certain parts of your life, you let it go into other areas, but the football is one area where he can control and he works hard every day in training and really got his rewards today.

“And hopefully that gives him a bit more of a settled feel to deal with the other areas in his life. For everyone, it’s about not letting it overwhelm you and hopefully a day like today helps him.”

Crawley boss Scott Lindsey admitted his overriding feeling was one of “satisfaction” after substitute Klaidi Lolos’ stoppage-time winner continued their fine home form.

The Red Devils went behind to a Charlie Jolley goal midway through the first half but Ronan Darcy replied just after the hour mark.

Sam Taylor restored Rovers advantage with a fine finish in the 67th minute, but Nick Tsaroulla made it 2-2 just two minutes later.

Lolos’ winner, in the sixth minute of stoppage time, was his third for the club and Lindsey said:” Satisfaction is the overriding feeling.

“When you play against a team who score relatively early and bank and sit in, it can become frustrating.

“We wanted to stick to what we do and what we work on. We knew they would potentially do that.

“To score three goals against a team who nullify a lot of spaces and bank in really deep is satisfying.

“We didn’t have a lot of goal-scoring opportunities, but we were clinical in three moments.”

Crawley have only lost two of 16 home league games since Lindsey took charge eight months ago and he added:”I’ve always felt this is a hard place for opposing teams to come and try and get points from us.”

Tranmere have now lost seven games in a row in all competitions and interim manager Nigel Adkins admitted:” It was harsh to lose right at the death.”

Adkins felt Tsaroulla was a handful for his men all game and said:” Their left wing-back gave us problems; I knew Crawley have players to give us problems.

“They are a team in form, but we put in a lot of graft and effort and are disappointed to give away three goals.

Rovers are only off the bottom of the table on goal difference and Adkins added:” We have to learn the lesson.

“We will reflect on it on Monday. We certainly created chances and I want us to be an aggressive team.

“The frustrating bit is that we have conceded three goals in the manner we have.”

Mansfield boss Nigel Clough admits his side were fortunate to claim a point after they struck late to draw 1-1 at Colchester.

Davis Keillor-Dunn converted a 90th-minute equaliser for the Stags from close range, after the home defence had failed to deal with Aden Flint’s flick-on in the area from Callum Johnson’s cross.

It preserved Mansfield’s unbeaten run, after Joe Taylor had given Colchester a 30th-minute lead when he clinically finished, from Arthur Read’s fine pass.

Clough said “I’m not sure how we got a point.

“I don’t think we deserved anything all day.

“I don’t think we did anything really that we’ve done in the first nine games.

“In the first half, we had an element of control without really hurting them, every time we got into the final third.

“We mis-placed a pass, gave it away, we didn’t cross properly.

“The goal sort of summed it up; a young player making a mistake and giving the ball away.

“Once he’s mis-controlled it, you do everything you can not to concede a goal.

“We massively missed Stephen Quinn’s composure today.

“But we put Flinty (Aden Flint) up front and it gives you a different option, to go through him.

“I’m not sure too many people in a red shirt actually recognised that Flinty had gone up front!

“They didn’t play the ball towards him for about 15 minutes!”

Mansfield goalkeeper Christy Pym had twice denied Taylor, shortly before Colchester’s top scorer fired the hosts ahead with a smart finish.

Zach Mitchell and Samson Tovide both went close for the U’s after half-time and substitute John Akinde’s header was nodded off the line by Aaron Lewis, before Keillor-Dunn salvaged Mansfield a point.

Colchester boss Ben Garner was disappointed his side could not hold on for victory.

Garner said: “We deserved to win the game.

“The biggest positive today was the togetherness of the team and the spirit.

“It was another performance that deserved a clean sheet against a top side, with one of the strongest squads in the division.

“Nigel’s built that team over probably three years now.

“I think our execution in the final third was the one thing that needed polishing up today.

“For the areas and situations we got in, we didn’t get our technique right and our decision right.

“They’re things that we can work on and we can improve.

“We’re building something here – you can feel it.

“The team is coming on and it’s gelling.

“The supporters were magnificent and it’s disappointing that we couldn’t give them three points to go home with.

“But we take a point, we move on and we have to channel that disappointment in the next two games.”

Reading manager Ruben Selles praised his side’s character – on and off the pitch – after they secured a 2-1 comeback victory over Bolton in League One.

The Trotters took the lead through top-scorer Dion Charles in the 20th minute, straight after the game had resumed after a three-minute break.

The delay had been caused by home fans throwing tennis balls on to the pitch in protest at the running of the club by Chinese owner Dai Yongge and the subsequent three-point English Football League deduction in midweek.

Reading dominated much of the game and were rewarded towards the end, when Charlie Savage levelled and substitute Caylon Vickers snatched the late winner.

Wanderers also had defender Eoin Toal sent off for a second yellow card.

“I’m really proud of the players,” Selles said.

“They have showed me that not only as footballers but also throughout the entire week. They have just focused on this game and on the things that we can affect. It is important to get the win and also the way we do it.

“The whole squad has all committed to our task and, for me, it was as much about the victory as the team spirit today.

“There is a big feeling of togetherness in the dressing room. That’s why we can get through everything that is put in front of us. Every time they step on the pitch, they want to make a difference.”

Of the fans’ actions and Charles’ immediate strike afterwards, Selles said: “We knew that the protest was coming. I don’t want to make excuses for it (the goal).

“It was more a disconnection from us, we’d had problems in that area before. But the fans have been supporting the team and me personally in every sort of situation that we have been in.”

Bolton dropped from second place to seventh after the defeat.

“I’m absolutely baffled as to how we ended up losing the game,” manager Ian Evatt said.

“We had so many critical chances and the game should have been out of sight for us at half-time.

“You can’t afford to miss those opportunities – one, maybe, but the two, three, four that we missed just isn’t OK.

“And away from home, if you don’t take those opportunities, you give the opposition a little bit of sugar and galvanise them and their crowd.

“Then you get a shot from distance (Savage’s goal) and that changes the entire momentum of the game.

“Then, we didn’t wrestle it back. We wobbled and we conceded a second. It’s absolutely crazy that we lose that game when we had created so many chances.

“We spoke about it in the week (Reading’s points deduction). When you get those, it creates a sort of siege mentality that they’re going to have.”

Erik ten Hag says Manchester United must respond with character and togetherness after a galling loss to Brighton on an afternoon when he regarded the booing of Rasmus Hojlund’s withdrawal as a positive.

After a promising first season under the Dutchman, a number of off-field issues at Old Trafford have been compounded by poor performances and results on the pitch.

Already beaten away to Tottenham and Arsenal, Saturday’s meek 3-1 home loss to Brighton meant the Red Devils have lost three of their first five matches for the first time in the Premier League era.

“Definitely that is something that bothers me,” manager Ten Hag said of the results. “But also I have to see the way we play.

“But finally it’s about character then. Now we have to see how strong we are, how the team sticks together and which players are standing up and showing the character and leading the team.

“Because in all the games, all the games but especially the games today, against Arsenal and Forest, we have seen we can play very good and we can create a lot of chances.

“But, yes, there are also some improvements to make. That is definitely the case and now we have to step up.”

Danny Welbeck put Brighton ahead against his former club before Marcus Rashford’s effort was deflected onto the woodwork and Hojlund’s first goal for his new club was ruled out by the VAR.

Pascal Gross and substitute Joao Pedro put the visitors further ahead in the second half at a stunned Old Trafford, where substitute Hannibal Mejbri’s exceptional first United goal did little to lift the mood.

There were boos at the final whistle and even louder jeers earlier in the second half when Ten Hag replaced lively full debutant Hojlund with Anthony Martial.

“I think it was positive,” the manager said of the reaction to the substitution. “You see that the fans from the first moment in Old Trafford, the reception for him was great.

“I think he performed very well, so I think it’s good that they gave this signal, this message. It will give him belief, Rasmus.

“But everyone knows he came in with a small issue. We built him over the last three, four weeks.

“He’s not ready for a whole game and we have many games to play in short notice, so we have to build him also in fitness.”

It has been a poor start to the season in all departments, but Ten Hag dismissed the notion that United are in crisis ahead of Wednesday’s tough-looking Champions League group opener at Bayern Munich.

“No, but we have to be very disappointed,” he said. “And we have to be very annoyed with ourselves because at United the demand is you win games.”

This loss ended United’s 31-match unbeaten home run in all competitions and saw them lose a Premier League match at Old Trafford for the first time since Ten Hag’s opening game.

Brighton were the victors that day and celebrated a second-ever Old Trafford win on Saturday, when they made it four top-flight wins in a row against the Red Devils.

Roberto De Zerbi’s brilliant side shone despite making six changes in the north west against a side constructed at a far greater cost.

“The football is nice because the small team can win in every moment against a great team,” the Brighton boss said.

“But I think Brighton is becoming not a big, big team but it’s not a surprise.

“The quality of the players of Brighton is very high and the organisation of the club. The possibility to manage two players per position is difficult.

“I don’t know the problems of Man United. I can explain my team.

“We are used to working in our style, we are playing with courage because we defended in Old Trafford man-to-man all the time.

“We are building our season in this way.”

Carlos Corberan insisted his West Brom side should have had at least one penalty to show for an improved second-half performance in their goalless draw at Bristol City.

More than 2,500 travelling fans behind the goal yelled for spot-kicks, first when Zak Vyner blocked a 77th-minute shot from substitute Josh Maja and then when Kal Naismith slid in with a goal-saving challenge on Maja in stoppage time.

Both sides hit the woodwork and had other chances to take all three points from an entertaining clash, which saw City dominate the first half and Albion storm back after the interval.

Corberan said: “With the tackle at the end, it is tough for a referee because he has only a second to decide whether the first contact was with the ball or the player.

“I thought the earlier situation was a more clear penalty. The ball was cut back to Maja for the finish and the only way the defender could block it was by using a hand.

“Unfortunately, we have to assess Maja because he was injured by the tackle. He is an excellent striker with a work ethic and maturity unusual for a player of his age.

“I had to make three or four points during half-time, which together with the changes we made, especially the performance of Maja when he went on, made us play better.

“The most positive thing for us was the performance of the team in the second half.

“It took us 45 minutes to adapt to the needs of the game and to understand which passes would avoid their press and which would put us in the attacking half.

“We also needed to address some competitive detail, which would allow us to dominate the game as we did in the second half.”

Bristol City boss Nigel Pearson watched the game on crutches because of a back problem and assistant Curtis Fleming conducted the post-match press conference.

He said: “Nigel’s back has become bad over the last couple of weeks and he might require surgery.

“It was an archetypal Championship game. We played really well in the first half and created some great situations.

“What we lacked perhaps was a bit of quality in our decision-making and that clinical edge you need to show in such a competitive league.

“Albion were always going to come into it in the second half, but again we had opportunities and their keeper has made a great save from Harry Cornick.

“When you are on top you really have to punish teams in the Championship and we didn’t do that today.

“At times the players had to put bodies on the line, which shows their commitment and there is no reason why we shouldn’t aim high this season.

“We are better than we were last season and why not aim for the play-offs. In recent seasons there has always been a club finish in the top six who were not expected to be.

“We believe in what we are doing and there is a real togetherness about the squad, which takes time to develop.

“Are we the finished article yet? No, I don’t think so. But we know we are going in the right direction.

“You can’t coach what Kal Naismith did at the end. He was prepared to make that challenge in front of 20,000 people and that is an example of the team spirit we have built.”

Pep Guardiola praised the impact of Jeremy Doku after the summer signing from Rennes scored his first Manchester City goal to help the champions recover to beat West Ham.

City fought back from a 1-0 deficit at half-time to level within seconds of the restart, Doku cutting inside Vladimir Coufal with excellent footwork and sliding beyond Alphonse Areola for his first goal for City.

Silva and Haaland struck in the final 15 minutes to ensure City maintained their perfect start and stayed top of the Premier League with a 3-1 triumph.

All that had looked less likely when James Ward-Prowse headed in from Coufal’s cross in the first half to give West Ham a deserved lead and put them on course to overtake Guardiola’s side in the league.

The manager said he had not expected such an immediate impact from the 21-year-old Doku, who cost £55million to sign from the Ligue 1 side in the final week of the transfer window, and feared there was a shyness to his performance when he made his debut against Fulham before the international break.

Guardiola watched that game remotely from Barcelona whilst he recovered from back surgery, but since returning to Manchester has been impressed by the progress the Belgium international has made following the 5-1 win against Marco Silva’s side.

“I was in Barcelona, I had the feeling that he played a little bit shy (against Fulham),” he said. “He’d just arrived, had two or three days training, with a team that won the Treble. Maybe he was a little bit in this way.

“But today, no. (I said) use your quality as a winger. One against one, one against two; go. If you don’t have the feeling, pass back to Josko (Gvardiol) and play again.

“Today was from the first minute incredible, aggressive, great determination, arrived many times to the byline. Many, may good things he’s done. Really, really pleased. We thought the quality was there and today he started to prove it.

“When you buy a young player like him for many years (contract), we have to be patient. We cannot expect, I didn’t expect the second game for City to play like he did today. The way he played today, I don’t remember from a long time ago something like that.

“There are processes that he has to learn. Always we are there to help him. At Manchester City, every player has to be (himself). All the players here have a lot of quality.”

City have won all five of their league games this season as they seek an unprecedented fourth consecutive league title.

They were placed under pressure by West Ham for a period in the second half as David Moyes’ side went close through Michail Antonio, Emerson and Kurt Zouma, with Ederson in goal producing a string of fine saves.

“I would say West Ham had more chances in the second half than the first,” said Guardiola. “We created against a team that defends so deep and really, really well. We created a lot of chances in the 90 minutes.

“I’m so proud of the team. It’s great win for us, for the problems (injuries) we have in the squad. It doesn’t matter, the guys always respond well.

“We spoke at half-time, don’t be affected by the result because you’re playing really, really good in the first half. In the second half we were lucky to start and score a goal immediately, we had to be patient then and we had our chances, they had their chances. But really, really good in the way we played.”

Moyes reflected on a game in which his team ran the European champions close but ultimately did not have enough to avoid going down to their first defeat of the season.

“Our other games have had a lot similarities,” he said. “Chelsea missed a penalty kick, then Mick breaks through and scores to make it 2-1. Small margins in football. To be fair, the early season ones have gone for us.

“Today we played against a top team and we’ve done an OK job. Bits l liked, bits of it I didn’t like. But overall I have to say the players did a brilliant job.

“We tried to make it difficult, we always do against City. I think you have to be really clinical and also really clinical defensively as well. You can’t afford to make many mistakes.

“I thought the first goal came at a bad time. I thought their second goal was a mistake and we should have dealt with that much better. It changed the game really at that point.”

Darren Ferguson was not happy with his Peterborough side despite the 1-1 draw with Leyton Orient halting their three-match losing run in League One.

Hector Kyprianou struck from point-blank range after a 21st-minute corner from Harrison Burrows to put Posh ahead against his former club.

But the capital club restored parity when Joe Pigott and Omar Beckles both threw their heads at a fine Jordan Graham cross in the 34rd minute – with the latter being credited with the leveller.

Neither side could strike again with Ferguson, who served the second game of a two-match touchline ban, demanding a rapid improvement from the misfiring hosts.

He admitted: “It was important we didn’t lose another game, but it was still a disappointing result.

“I felt the first half was not how we play. There was no urgency and no enthusiasm. We didn’t even up it when we scored.

“Then we lost a tackle on the edge of our box, didn’t stop the cross, didn’t defend the cross and Orient are back in the game with something to hang on to.

“I made two changes at half-time and, honestly, I could easily have made more. That is not what I expect from my team and the players hopefully now realise that.

“We had better tempo and quality at times in the second half, but still without creating too many clear-cut chances. We have a lot to think about as we clearly we need to be better than that.

“Some players need to start performing to the level I expect as they are nowhere near it at the minute.”

Orient boss Richie Wellens was much happier with the outcome, saying: “Peterborough are a yo-yo club between League One and the Championship so you have to be happy to take a point away to them – especially after going 1-0 behind to a poor goal.

“I would be disappointed to concede that type of goal against a really big, physical team, but even more so against a good footballing side that aren’t very physical.

“But that’s the second time in two away games we have come from behind and to get four points from them is really pleasing.

“Our equaliser was the first time we got the ball into the right areas and Jordan showed again how good his delivery is from a wide area.

“We could probably even have won it with the amount of counter attacks we had towards the end.

“Everyone said we had a bad start, but the performances were good and the results could have been different.

“We wanted to get our points tally ticking over and these four from the last two away games have helped that.”

Aberdeen manager Barry Robson insists there was no need to panic despite the Dons being left joint-bottom of the cinch Premiership following Saturday’s 2-0 defeat to Hearts.

The visitors failed to build on a bright start at Tynecastle and ultimately came away with nothing as Hearts eased to the victory courtesy of goals from Yutaro Oda and Liam Boyce.

The travelling Aberdeen fans also made their feelings clear at full-time ahead of their team’s opening Europa Conference League group clash at Eintracht Frankfurt on Thursday.

Asked if it was too early to panic over the sight of Aberdeen being joint bottom alongside St Johnstone, Robson, who handed a debut to defender Stefan Gartenmann, said: “I think so. When you look at where we were as a club last year, we’ve had a difficult start.

“I think that’s the first time we’ve had all the players who we’ve tried to sign all in. You can see a bit of that. But listen, even with that, we still need to try and get results.

“I’m honest enough and smart enough to know that you need results even with the hard start, a lot of away games.”

Asked about the fans’ reaction, Robson added: “100 per cent (I understand their reaction). We want to win football matches. I think they know that.

“We are a work in progress. That was a whole new back five, we tried to change it at half-time, but you could see a lack of cohesion with us.”

Oda put Hearts ahead in the 14th minute when his deflected drive beat Kelle Roos and Liam Boyce doubled the home team’s lead in the 64th minute.

Boyce was left with an easy tap-in after Roos was forced into a save at his near post when Calem Nieuwenhof’s cross deflected off Jamie McGrath.

Hearts head coach Steven Naismith was thrilled with the way his team handled the game.

He said: “It was a really good afternoon. In one respect we needed the break mentally to reset and take stock. In the European games the performances had been good, but the challenge is when you come into domestic games, you must win and we never dealt with that well enough.

“In the games I’ve been in charge of, it’s probably the most comfortable I’ve been at the end of a game when it is still alive with it being 2-0.”

Crystal Palace first-team coach Paddy McCarthy said Roy Hodgson is feeling better after the manager was forced to miss his side’s 3-1 defeat at Aston Villa.

The 76-year-old was taken ill on Saturday morning and did not travel to Villa Park, but looked like he was going to receive the perfect tonic as his side led through Odsonne Edouard’s early second-half goal.

However, Jhon Duran levelled for Villa in the 87th minute and then added-time goals from Douglas Luiz, a penalty that survived a rigorous pitchside check by referee Darren England, and Leon Bailey saw Villa take all three points in the Premier League clash.

Despite the late heartache, Hodgson is on the mend.

McCarthy, who took charge along with coach Ray Lewington, said: “He is feeling better, so we are hopeful that he can continue to feel better and be back with us sooner rather than later.

“All the preparations were done with Roy. It was early, sort of between breakfast and the pre-match meal that he felt unwell, that is when we found out about it. We just continued as we had prepared.

“Before the game we had contact and then there was a lot of stuff going on. It was before the game we had contact and we will obviously speak to him after the game.”

There was over four minutes between referee England awarding a penalty for a foul by Chris Richards on Ollie Watkins and standing by his decision after being invited to check it by the VAR.

England decided that a foul had taken place before the Palace defender won the ball.

However, McCarthy says such a delay suggests it was not a foul.

“To concede a goal in the 87th minute and then to concede a goal in controversial circumstances later on is disappointing,” he said.

“If it takes five minutes to make a decision that tells you everything you need to know. People in the studio have asked him to go and have a look. Whatever he has seen on the monitor has not changed his mind.”

Aston Villa equalled a post-war record of nine successive home league wins with their late turnaround, which was reward for an industrious performance.

Boss Unai Emery said his side won because they used their hearts.

“Today was a very different match, this is the 10th in a row we have won, nine in the Premier League and against Hibernian in the Conference League,” he said.

“But it was completely different. We want to play like we played in the first half, but scoring goals because we deserved to score.

“We weren’t playing the second half like I want but sometimes we have to use our heart and use our passions. We needed the referee giving us the minutes that he added and created chances in the second half when playing a different way.

“I enjoyed it. It is difficult after we conceded the goal, they had one or two chances to score. But sometimes in my experience I know we have to take the decision of playing with the heart and more emotion than normal and today was like that.”

St Mirren boss Stephen Robinson hailed the spirit of his players after they battled to a 1-0 victory over Motherwell and moved up to second in the cinch Premiership.

The Buddies found themselves on the back foot for large spells of the encounter at Fir Park, but they broke the deadlock 10 minutes after half-time when Scott Tanser volleyed home Ryan Strain’s cross.

Saints have picked up 11 points from their opening five league fixtures and although Robinson felt his side were not at their best, he was delighted in the way his side dug deep to see out the win.

“I’m delighted with the result, we showed great character and togetherness to grind out a result,” he said.

“We weren’t at our best by any stretch of the imagination in possession of the ball.

“Sometimes you don’t play as well as you can, against Aberdeen we were brilliant and didn’t get the three points.

“Today we weren’t on the top of it – a lot of boys coming from all over the world after travelling, only trained one day – but we managed to grind out a result which is a sign of a good team.

“We defended for our lives, and a special mention for Alex Gogic, Scott Tanser and Zach Hemming as well – there were some really terrific defensive performances today.”

Despite leapfrogging Motherwell into second spot, the St Mirren gaffer insists nobody at the club is getting carried away.

Robinson believes that the togetherness and work ethic within the Saints squad have been key factors in their recent success and is looking for more of the same as the season progresses.

“I’ve a lot of belief in the players. When you create an atmosphere that the players have done and they are as diligent and willing to work as hard as they do then you get your rewards,” he added.

“It’s very, very early in the season. There will be times in the season when it doesn’t go our way – but it’ll never be from lack of effort.

“We’ll enjoy it. I’d love the season to end right now, that would be fantastic.

“We’ve made a terrific start and plaudits should go to the team and the players.”

Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell was left frustrated at his side’s lack of cutting edge as they suffered their first league defeat since April.

“Everyone that was there would see that we were by far the better side – I don’t think there’s any point in kidding ourselves on about that,” Kettlewell said.

“I have to say I think that’s as well as we’ve performed since I came to the club in February.

“I genuinely believe that, in and out of possession I thought we were excellent – but it’s all excuses isn’t it?

“We’ve lost a game of football and I’ve said to the players we can’t become a side that plays like that and doesn’t pick up something from the game.”

New Hibernian boss Nick Montgomery insists there are plenty of positives to take despite watching his side throw away a two-goal lead in a 2-2 draw with Kilmarnock at Rugby Park.

An unfortunate own-goal by goalkeeper Will Dennis handed the visitors the lead after eight minutes before Dylan Vente’s strike doubled Hibs’ lead.

It looked as if Montgomery’s reign at Easter Road was set to get off to the perfect start, but a half-hour capitulation saw them pegged back as Kilmarnock earned a dramatic point.

Kyle Vassell pulled one back from close-range just minutes after Vente notched his third goal of the season, before Joe Wright completed the turnaround as he headed home Danny Armstrong’s inside the six-yard box.

Montgomery said: “It’s obviously frustrating to go 2-0 up away from home and not win but I thought the boys played some really good stuff as it’s not an easy place to come.

“I thought we could have probably killed the game off in the first-half as we had some very good chances and their keeper pulled off some good saves and when we conceded the first one it gave them a bit of momentum.

“It’s disappointing not to take full points but credit to Kilmarnock as they showed real fight.

“It was a real team effort, including the boys that came off the bench, who looked very dangerous. We could look back at the end of the season and realise it was a good point but just now it’s a difficult one to take.

“It’s not been easy to cram everything in within the space of a week, but the boys have been very receptive. What I have learned is that there are great staff here and the squad is very strong.

“We’ve got competition for places all over the pitch and that’s what you need. They took a lot of information on board this week and I thought they were very brave, created some good stuff and were backed on by the fans who were outstanding today.

“I’m a little bit tired and have been jet-lagged for the first couple of days.

“Everybody has been very welcoming as have the players, fans, and staff as well.

“I’ve bumped into a lot of people while wandering around and have had people coming up and wishing me well. It’s now my job to give them all something back and get the team playing well.”

Kilmarnock boss Derek McInnes felt his side should have defended better in the build-up to Hibernian’s second.

He said: “It’s quite a quiet dressing room down there to be honest and it feels like an opportunity missed.

“When you’re 2-0 down with so little time to go, the response was everything you want and what supporters want to see. Everybody gave that wee bit more and that’s what you call team spirit.

“I thought the second goal came against the run of play a wee bit as we started the second-half well and were a bit braver and tried to minimise the influence of (Martin) Boyle and (Elie) Youan as those boys don’t need any encouragement to influence a game.

“The second goal killed us, it was an absolutely ridiculous goal to lose from a throw-in. If we defended that situation better we could have won the game, but these players are everything that I want my team to be.

“I’m really pleased with how we finished the game and I think that’s always important.”

Fulham boss Marco Silva praised substitute Carlos Vinicius’ second-half cameo in a 1-0 win over Luton in the Premier League.

Willian’s cross was parried by Luton goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski into the path of Vinicius, who tapped in after 65 minutes.

Silva talked up the striker who took his opportunity off the bench despite finding himself second choice behind the misfiring Raul Jimenez.

“He made the impact that we needed in that moment on the pitch not just because he scored, of course that’s what is important for the striker but with his dynamic we needed him in that moment,” Silva said.

“We knew that around 60 minutes we should make the change. It was nice to see Carlos score and it was a very good week for him and he deserved the chance to come on

“It is nice to see him being decisive in the game for us and competition between them (strikers) is always important for us.”

Joao Palhinha returned to the starting XI and shone in the middle of the park just weeks after his failed transfer to Bayern Munich on deadline day.

Silva praised the professionalism of the midfielder, who renewed his contract in west London until 2028.

Silva added: “He’s a top player, a top professional and a top guy. Since the first minute he joined the club he’s showed his quality and his commitment.

“Any professional always wants to improve their career so it’s no surprise when one of the biggest clubs in the world wants a player they want to go and improve.

“I never had doubts about his commitment here and it’s nice to see him renew his contract alongside Harrison Reed – they’re both great use for this club 100 per cent.”

Luton have now lost four straight games and sit at the foot of the Premier League table.

Manager Rob Edwards praised his team’s efforts and admitted that missed opportunities from Jacob Brown, Amari’i Bell and Tom Lockyer cost the Hatters.

“We were in the game to the 94th minute and I’m very proud of the lads but we missed three golden opportunities today. Brown’s header in the first half, Bell’s chance and Lockyer’s at the end,” Edwards said.

“Carlton Morris should also have had a penalty so I think we could be in here talking about a very different result. I’m really proud, they committed to the tactics very well, we were fine with Fulham having the ball, we wanted to set traps and be a threat on the counter and I do genuinely think we should be here saying we took something from the game.

“We’re disappointed because we’re winners and we want to get points but I’ve seen progression again. I saw a very organised team who attacked quickly and were a real threat. It was hard for Fulham to play through us and to create key opportunities, we limited them to very few.”

Brendan Rodgers praised the Celtic Park support for their patience and togetherness after a flurry of second-half goals saw off Dundee in a 3-0 victory for the cinch Premiership leaders.

Dundee had the best chance of the first half when Joe Hart saved well from Luke McCowan from point-blank range and Celtic struggled to get in behind, although Daizen Maeda had a goal ruled out for offside and Matt O’Riley hit a post with a deflected effort.

Rodgers received stick from a small section of the crowd after Celtic were held to a goalless draw by St Johnstone in their previous home match, but there was no sign of tension and the breakthrough came in the 51st minute.

David Turnbull took advantage of Ryan Howley’s over-eagerness to win the ball and got in his way just on the edge of the box, with a penalty ultimately given after VAR intervened following Grant Irvine’s free-kick award.

Turnbull converted and Celtic were three up midway through the half after Kyogo Furuhashi headed home and then set up O’Riley to net.

Rodgers said: “Every game is difficult. It’s a great shout out to the crowd, they did really well for us. I think they could see what we were trying to do in the first half and we were unlucky not to be in front.

“At 0-0 at half-time it could have been a little bit edgy. But they stayed with the team, second half we upped the tempo, combined really well, got the goals and everyone gets their reward at the end just by staying patient and staying together. It was really pleasing.”

Rodgers handed debuts to Nat Phillips and substitutes Luis Palma and Paulo Bernardo as well as seeing Reo Hatate make his comeback from injury off the bench.

Rodgers said of his new players: “Nice for them to get a feel of playing here in front of the crowd and the crowd gave them a great reception, so that will give them a boost as a Celtic player. They have made their first steps and I was pleased for them.”

Phillips went off for Gustaf Lagerbielke at half-time, but the on-loan Liverpool defender is expected to be fit for Tuesday’s Champions League opener against Feyenoord in Rotterdam.

“Towards the end of the first half he rolled his ankle,” Rodgers said. “He was going to play 60 minutes, but it was just precautionary and he should be fine.”

Rodgers also dismissed any fitness doubts over Furuhashi, who went down the tunnel during the first half to get his shoulder popped back in.

“It was just his shoulder, he just needed to get some work off the pitch and quickly the medical team sorted it out,” Rodgers said. “He came back in and was fine.”

Dundee manager Tony Docherty was frustrated with the manner of the breakthrough.

“I thought we carried out the game plan excellently first half, we had a really good chance to score before we came in,” he said.

“But the message is then to keep it tight and I do think it’s a mistake on our part. I don’t think the player should commit to making that tackle.

“I have watched it a couple of times and it’s hard to make a decision. I don’t think it was a definite penalty.

“I don’t think Ryan needs to challenge for the ball, but David Turnbull has been cute, he has used his body.

“I’m not sure if it’s in the box. The ball definitely isn’t. But to lose the all-important goal in the game to that is very disappointing.”