Harrogate boss Simon Weaver hailed goalkeeper Mark Oxley following his match-winning display in their 1-0 win at MK Dons.
Oxley made two fine stops to deny Mo Eisa inside the first 10 minutes before later keeping out Daniel Harvie’s strike from range as the hosts applied early pressure.
Having ridden the storm, Harrogate went ahead in fortuitous circumstances when Dons goalkeeper Craig MacGillivray’s clearance struck the unfortunate Warren O’Hora and flew into the back of the net four minutes before the break.
The visitors dug deep in the second half to secure all three points and leave their manager beaming.
“We are buzzing and delighted with the victory,” Weaver said.
“We initially lacked a little bit of the intensity which we really desire and demand. It probably took a fine save from Mark Oxley to be the catalyst to have a better performance.
“After the first 15 minutes we were terrific and really hard to beat, which we have been for the last few weeks.
“The confidence has grown with our efforts on the ball in order to counter-attack and pass our way up the pitch, and we showed great courage in that respect at a difficult place to come.
“There were signs on the counter-attack, where we caused a bit of mayhem, sucked them into the middle third, and when we broke it up, we had threats.
“Second half was all about grit and seeing it through, and we could have added to the tally. But we’re delighted with the clean sheet and victory.”
The hosts struggled to create clear-cut chances in the second half, Harvie and Jack Payne missing the target from outside the box, but Graham Alexander felt his side were hard done by as their winless run stretched to five league matches.
“The way we played, there’s no way we should lose that game,” he said.
“The keeper’s made some wonderful saves and we gave a really, really poor goal away just before half-time.
“It played into an away team’s hands. They sat deep and looked to counter us and got deeper and deeper and became a solid sort-of back 11.
“There were instances we could have done better but I can’t admonish the players for their work ethic and commitment. It’s a tough result to take where I don’t think it was deserved.
“Anyone looking at the game again in the cold light of day will say we did more than enough to win.
“It’s probably more than some of the games we won in the start of the season, but that’s how football works sometimes.
“What we do is stay together, crack on, work on Monday and try to put it right on Tuesday.”
Crew dedicate dramatic NYCFC victory to late NHL star Gaudreau
Cucho Hernandez dedicated Columbus Crew's dramatic last-gasp victory over New York City FC to the late NHL star Johnny Gaudreau.
The Crew struck twice in stoppage time to seal a 4-2 triumph and extend their winning streak across all competitions to eight matches.
Despite cancelling out Alonso Martinez's early strike through Diego Rossi and Maximilian Arfsten, Columbus were pegged back in the 86th minute by Mounsef Bakrar.
However, the hosts were not to be denied at Lower.com Field as DeJuan Jones and Jacen Russell-Rowe snatched victory in stoppage time, while Julian Fernandez was sent off for the visitors.
Striker Hernandez took to X to pay tribute to Gaudreau, who plied his trade with the Columbus Blue Jackets, after the seven-time All-Star and his younger brother Matthew were killed in a bicycling accident in Philadelphia on Thursday.
"We would like to dedicate this victory to Johnny and his brother Matthew," he posted. "Our condolences to his family at this difficult time. May they rest in peace."
Brentford 3-1 Southampton: Bees begin life after Toney with comfortable win
Brentford began life without Ivan Toney with a comfortable 3-1 victory over Southampton.
Bryan Mbeumo’s brace and a Yoane Wissa goal proved to be the difference between the two sides and condemned the Saints to their third straight loss since promotion back to the Premier League.
With departed striker Toney watching in the stands after his move to Al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia, the hosts proved too strong for Russell Martin’s men. They created the superior chances and capitalised on an error-strewn performance from Southampton’s backline.
Mbeumo opened the scoring on the stroke of half-time before doubling the lead halfway through the second period and Wissa then got on the scoresheet moments later to continue Brentford’s strong start to the campaign. Yukinari Sugawara bagged a consolation in injury time for the Saints.
Brentford sit in fifth place ahead of the first international break, while Southampton are second-bottom of the league table with zero points.
Data debrief: Wissa continues to prove effective at home
Wissa now has five goals and two assists in his last seven matches at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Brentford have recorded consecutive home league wins for the first time since last November, and the first time in their opening home games since August 2018.
Brentford 3-1 Southampton: Bees begin life without Toney with comfortable win
Brentford began life without Ivan Toney with a comfortable 3-1 victory over Southampton.
Bryan Mbeumo’s brace and a Yoane Wissa goal proved to be the difference between the two sides and condemned the Saints to their third straight loss since promotion back to the Premier League.
With departed striker Toney watching in the stands after his move to Al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia, the hosts proved too strong for Russell Martin’s men. They created the superior chances and capitalised on an error-strewn performance from Southampton’s backline.
Mbeumo opened the scoring on the stroke of half-time before doubling the lead halfway through the second period and Wissa then got on the scoresheet moments later to continue Brentford’s strong start to the campaign. Yukinari Sugawara bagged a consolation in injury time for the Saints.
Brentford sit in fifth place ahead of the first international break, while Southampton are second-bottom of the league table with zero points.
Data debrief: Wissa continues to prove effective at home
Wissa now has five goals and two assists in his last seven matches at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Brentford have recorded consecutive home league wins for the first time since last November, and the first time in their opening home games since August 2018.
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