Steve Evans hit out at the “shambolic” defending which cost Stevenage victory in their 2-2 draw with Carlisle.

Jamie Reid’s double looked set to give Boro three points, but Joe Garner’s last-gasp header rescued a point for the Cumbrians, for whom goalkeeper Jokull Andresson was in inspired form.

The result was enough to take Evans’ newly-promoted side a point clear at the summit, albeit having played a game more than the majority of the division, but the Boro boss was not in the mood to revel in the lofty position.

“I’ve got no interest in being top of League One,” he said. “We played really well, but we’ve given away two of the worst goals a team can concede and a team deserving of nothing get a share of the spoils.

“That dressing room is flat and they will stay flat because we need to learn. Individuals have to take responsibility when we praise them and also when we criticise because it’s two shambolic bits of defending.”

Reid gave the hosts the a 15th-minute lead, firing home after Carl Piergianni flicked on Dan Butler’s free-kick.

Parity was restored four minutes later when Sean Maguire tucked the ball home via a deflection and in the aftermath, Stevenage assistant Paul Raynor was booked for dissent.

Andresson produced fine saves from Jordan Roberts, Charlie McNeill and Reid before the break and the first chance of the second half saw Piergianni hit the bar.

Reid doubled his tally with 16 minutes to go before being denied a hat-trick by the Icelandic goalkeeper, whose saves proved vital as Garner struck at the death.

“Jamie Reid will take the plaudits because he’s scored two, but he could have had five or six,” Evans said. “That’s not the standards you need at this level to win the game.

“There will be no plaudits from me about being top of the league when people around us have games in hand, that means nothing to me that nonsense.”

Carlisle came up alongside Stevenage in League Two last season and United boss Paul Simpson hailed goalkeeper Andresson for his part in earning his side a hard-fought point.

“Jokull is outstanding,” he said. “He’s made some excellent saves and that’s why we’ve brought him in because he’s a shot-stopper.

“He hasn’t got the height of Tomas Holy and his kicking might not be as good, but the players have got confidence in him.

“When he makes saves like that, they have more confidence in him and you need to be confident in your goalkeeper.

“It’s important to have a group who are ready and prepared to do the ugly stuff. I think if we do the ugly stuff throughout the game, then we could be taking away three points.”

Stevenage moved to the top of the League One table despite Joe Garner’s late header earning Carlisle a 2-2 draw at Broadhall Way.

Jamie Reid, who bagged 14 goals last term, had seemingly secured three points for Boro with his double either side of Sean Maguire’s equaliser.

But Paul Simpson’s side headed back to Cumbria with a point thanks to Garner’s stoppage-time leveller.

Jokull Andresson produced a string of fine saves in the visitors’ goal but could not prevent Boro from taking the lead after 15 minutes, Reid firing home after Carl Piergianni had flicked on Dan Butler’s free-kick from the halfway line.

The hosts could have made it two soon afterwards as Jordan Roberts’ volley was kept out by Andresson.

Parity was restored five minutes late when Maguire tucked home Jack Armer’s upfield punt with a deflected shot and in the aftermath Stevenage assistant Paul Raynor was booked for dissent.

Andresson produced another fine stop to keep out Charlie McNeill’s effort on the half-hour mark and was at it again five minutes before the break as he denied Reid a second with his feet.

After the break, Piergianni met Butler’s corner only for his header to cannon off the bar.

The defender then went close again but was thwarted by an inspired Andresson.

Reid doubled his tally as he fired the hosts in front again with 16 minutes to go before being denied a hat-trick by the Icelandic keeper.

Those saves proved vital as Garner secured a share of the spoils with his last-gasp header, but Boro still went top after Leyton Orient scored a late winner at previous leaders Exeter.

Leyton Orient came from behind to record a deserved 2-1 win at League One leaders Exeter, with Ruel Sotiriou firing home a stoppage-time winner.

Orient started well, with Omar Beckles striking the crossbar inside the first seven minutes and then Sotiriou side-footed wide from six yards when an Exeter clearance fell right at his feet.

Idris El Mizouni forced Grecians keeper Gary Woods into a smart save as Exeter, missing several players through injury and international duty, failed to assert themselves.

However, the home side broke the deadlock in spectacular fashion in the 49th minute when 16-year-old debutant Jake Richards lobbed the ball forwards and Demi Mitchell allowed it to bounce before lashing a stunning 20-yard half volley over the head of Sol Bryan which went in off the underside of the crossbar.

Orient  levelled six minutes later, though, as Joe Pigott was allowed to chest down a cross and fire a shot into the bottom corner from 10 yards.

Os defender Brandon Cooper forced Woods into a flying save with a shot from 20 yards, while Mitchell headed a good chance wide for Exeter.

But, Orient won it two minutes into stoppage time when Sotiriou was afforded too much space 25 yards out and his low shot flew past Woods into the bottom corner.

Stevenage moved to the top of the League One table despite Joe Garner’s late header earning Carlisle a 2-2 draw at Broadhall Way.

Jamie Reid, who bagged 14 goals last term, had seemingly secured three points for Boro with his double either side of Sean Maguire’s equaliser.

But Paul Simpson’s side headed back to Cumbria with a point thanks to Garner’s stoppage-time leveller.

Jokull Andresson produced a string of fine saves in the visitors’ goal but could not prevent Boro from taking the lead after 15 minutes, Reid firing home after Carl Piergianni had flicked on Dan Butler’s free-kick from the halfway line.

The hosts could have made it two soon afterwards as Jordan Roberts’ volley was kept out by Andresson.

Parity was restored five minutes late when Maguire tucked home Jack Armer’s upfield punt with a deflected shot and in the aftermath Stevenage assistant Paul Raynor was booked for dissent.

Andresson produced another fine stop to keep out Charlie McNeill’s effort on the half-hour mark and was at it again five minutes before the break as he denied Reid a second with his feet.

After the break, Piergianni met Butler’s corner only for his header to cannon off the bar.

The defender then went close again but was thwarted by an inspired Andresson.

Reid doubled his tally as he fired the hosts in front again with 16 minutes to go before being denied a hat-trick by the Icelandic keeper.

Those saves proved vital as Garner secured a share of the spoils with his last-gasp header, but Boro still went top after Leyton Orient scored a late winner at previous leaders Exeter.

Leyton Orient came from behind to record a deserved 2-1 win at League One leaders Exeter, with Ruel Sotiriou firing home a stoppage-time winner.

Orient started well, with Omar Beckles striking the crossbar inside the first seven minutes and then Sotiriou side-footed wide from six yards when an Exeter clearance fell right at his feet.

Idris El Mizouni forced Grecians keeper Gary Woods into a smart save as Exeter, missing several players through injury and international duty, failed to assert themselves.

However, the home side broke the deadlock in spectacular fashion in the 49th minute when 16-year-old debutant Jake Richards lobbed the ball forwards and Demi Mitchell allowed it to bounce before lashing a stunning 20-yard half volley over the head of Sol Bryan which went in off the underside of the crossbar.

Orient  levelled six minutes later, though, as Joe Pigott was allowed to chest down a cross and fire a shot into the bottom corner from 10 yards.

Os defender Brandon Cooper forced Woods into a flying save with a shot from 20 yards, while Mitchell headed a good chance wide for Exeter.

But, Orient won it two minutes into stoppage time when Sotiriou was afforded too much space 25 yards out and his low shot flew past Woods into the bottom corner.

Mark Bonner lauded his Cambridge side’s display after they saw off Reading.

The U’s responded to a disappointing loss at Leyton Orient to beat the Royals 1-0 courtesy of Fejiri Okenabirhie’s strike seven minutes from the end.

Cambridge climbed back into the top six of League One, while Reading are yet to pick up a point away from home this season.

“I thought it was a brilliant game,” Bonner said afterwards.

“Both teams had good chances, both teams were trying to win the game. There was drama throughout the game, and in the ending obviously they could have got something from it, but I thought our performance level was good.

“I liked the intent that we started with. It was a brilliant chance early on, I’m surprised we didn’t score early in the game, so it was there for us, but I’m delighted with the game that we played.

“We gave our subs the chance to come on and win the game, which is important. We’ve got to make sure that when we make those changes we’re in a game that gives them a chance of winning it for us.

“There was lots to like about us tonight, it was much more us. I think five out of six games we’ve been a good side this year.

“I love in the 30th minute how we defended our box, amazing. Everybody chucking their body in the way to block things, that’s us at our best. You’ve got to give everything. (It’s) a bit rock and roll sometimes, not always perfect, but that’s what we want to see. I really liked the intent in our game tonight.”

Ruben Selles expressed his disappointment at Reading’s display, saying: “The thought is that our performance was not good enough.

“We had a plan of how to come here and try to win the game. We were trying to get a tempo of the game and we didn’t. We tried different variations, and we had an opponent that closed all the spaces and played the game really well.

“I’m disappointed with the result, I’m disappointed with the performance.

“We had chances in the game to score goals. I think we created enough to at least score one goal. We need to be more ruthless, we need to be more nasty.

“We need to know how to play our own game, and we need to know how to control the game as a team. Today, for some periods of the game we were not with that control.

“We know the team we want to be. There are some positive things in what we do but at the end of the day we need to win football matches.”

Fejiri Okenabirhie was again Cambridge’s hero from the bench as the U’s beat Reading 1-0.

The match looked set to end in a frenetic but ultimately goalless draw, but the home side broke through seven minutes from time to take the points.

James Brophy burst into the box and squared for Okenabirhie to slam home from eight yards, the second home game in a row in which he has opened the scoring as a substitute.

Cambridge had almost gone ahead within the opening minute, with Gassan Ahadme’s header somehow kept out by Reading keeper David Button.

At the other end U’s stopper Will Mannion produced a fine double stop to deny Caylon Vickers and Ben Elliott.

It was Cambridge who piled forward after half-time, with Button pushing a Paul Digby effort wide at his near post.

After Okenabirhie provided the game’s decisive moment, Reading almost snatched an equaliser five minutes into added time, but ex-Cambridge man Harvey Knibbs smashed his effort onto the underside of the bar and down onto the goal line.

Joey Barton joked that the food that he eats on Saturday night will taste much better given that his side conjured up a late equaliser at the Memorial Stadium against Lincoln.

Barton explained that he would be going out for dinner to celebrate his 41st birthday following his team’s second home draw in Sky Bet League One this season, and that he will be in a much better mood after Josh Grant headed in Antony Evans’ corner in the fourth minute of stoppage time.

The former Manchester City player can see progression in his Bristol Rovers side after they grabbed a late point, but still remain winless on their own turf.

“We were the side trying to make stuff happen,” said Barton. “Mark’s done a very good job to prepare a side to sit and counter.

“Groundhog Day again and we had to show our learning from recent weeks. While I don’t think we’ve fired on all cylinders today, I thought there was definitely signs of progress there against a disciplined, well-organised Lincoln side that don’t concede many goals.

“A point’s a positive because we were in a losing position. We’ve had a lot of ball and a lot of dominance, but we’ve got to work on the training ground to get even better.”

Barton explained that things might have been easier for his side if Rovers had managed to complete the signing of former striker Jonson Clarke-Harris after a club-record deal was agreed with Peterborough, but failed to be completed before the EFL transfer deadline on Friday.

“It would have been nice to get that spear tip and the final piece of the jigsaw, but you don’t get everything you want in life,” he explained.

“We haven’t managed by seconds to get the deal done and we have to make a solution.”

Lincoln head coach Mark Kennedy praised his side’s fortitude as they came within seconds of grabbing a fourth victory in six league matches.

Captain Adam Jackson opened the scoring in the 53rd minute as the ball fell into his path after goalkeeper Matt Cox parried an Ethan Erhahon shot.

“I’ve seen the possession stats and they don’t bother me because we were one up. We had four or five players on the backline and Reeco [Hackett-Fairchild] was running on fumes,” he said.

“There were some real tired legs out there. I was really worried about the game. Especially playing Blackpool home then Sheffield United away, a Wednesday game and a day less to recover, and then a huge trip down here.

“It was a game I was personally really worried about. It’s a brilliant, brilliant point and it would have been amazing to get three because it was so late in the game, but no complaints.”

Steve Evans was delighted to see Stevenage’s best-laid plans pay handsome dividends after his in-form side claimed an “excellent” 3-0 win at Leyton Orient to go third in League One.

Boro have now won four of their six league matches this campaign and their latest success came thanks to first-half goals by debutant Charlie McNeill and Dan Sweeney and then a wonderful 25-yard strike by Nick Freeman.

Evans’ promoted team now are level on 13 points with leaders Exeter and second-placed Bolton following their convincing victory over last season’s League Two champions, and the Scot believes the scoreline could have been even greater.

“I thought the boys were excellent,” Evans said.

“We knew we were playing against an excellent team but we had a game plan which we worked for a couple of days and we knew we could effect it in certain areas. With a little bit more care and attention I think we could have won by more.

“We didn’t set up immediately which comes with new players but we have tremendous team spirit and we learned lots today about individuals and we continue to be humble. We win, lose and draw together.

“We’ve come to Leyton Orient and the atmosphere has been tremendous from both sets of supporters albeit I care more about ours than anything.

“They have travelled in big numbers and Orient fans always turn up and get behind Richie Wellens and the team here.

“I thought Charlie McNeill’s movement was fantastic. In fairness, the Leyton Orient defenders done well to find where he was after half an hour because he ran them ragged into all sorts of channels and he got his goal as a reward.”

O’s boss Wellens took responsibility for the reverse following his side’s fourth defeat in six league matches this season.

Orient must view Stevenage as a bogey side having failed to win any of the last six encounters against them.

“I will take the blame,” Wellens said.

“It’s very difficult when you have a performance like last week whether we needed to change the team and I contemplated all week, do we need to go big or do we need to maybe go three at the back?

“I thought first 15 minutes we were good and dominating the game and Ruel Sotiriou has to score in that period but pretty quickly after that we conceded from two set-plays. After that they managed the game well and made no mistakes.

“I should have changed the team from last week and put more experience out there. Our average age of the side was 22-years-old but it was against a team of men and physically we struggled.

“Set-plays and balls into our box is something we need to work on. When you have so many young players, it’s a learning curve. Full credit to them though they were outstanding.”

Portsmouth manager John Mousinho was pleased to see his side extend their unbeaten league run to 17 games with a 3-1 win over Peterborough.

Colby Bishop was among the goals as Pompey came from behind to take the points.

Mousinho said: “We didn’t start particularly well but we became more consistent as the game went on, especially in the second half. I thought in that second period that we were the only side that looked like scoring.

“It seems to be a pivotal moment in the season by putting a marker down against one of the best teams in the league.

“We changed the way we pressed early on because (Peterborough defender Ronnie) Edwards was having too much time on the ball bringing it out.

“After that, I felt that we got the bit between the teeth having gone a goal down.

“The only criticism I would have is that we didn’t get a fourth, but we defended extremely well especially when down to 10 men.”

Posh took the lead after 20 minutes minutes as, with plenty of room and only one defender to beat, Ricky Jade Jones cut inside and curled the ball into the far corner.

Pompey equalised in the 38th minute when a Marlon Pack cross found Bishop, who headed home from close range.

Within five minutes, Pompey had the lead. A corner from the right saw Kwame Poku slice the ball into his own six-yard box for a surprised Abu Kamara to sweep home.

After Hector Kyprianou headed against his own bar, Pompey increased their lead after 59 minutes when a powerful low cross from Kamara saw Regan Poole net from close range.

Joe Morrell saw red after a second yellow five minutes from time, but Pompey held on for the points despite nine added minutes of play.

Peterborough boss Darren Ferguson said: “It’s a disappointing result. Nobody likes losing, but that’s three defeats in a row now.

“We’ve got an extremely young squad and I’m not sure we are quite ready yet for this sort of game.

“It’s always a difficult place to come and we need to learn to keep our focus and concentration. That is key to getting results. We just haven’t got that ruthless touch at the moment.

“We started well. Ricky scored and missed a good chance for 2-0. He was a thorn in their side until he went off. He turned his ankle after hitting the barriers, took another knock after that, and had to come off.”

Shaun Maloney criticised Wigan’s first-half performance after seeing his side fall to a 2-1 defeat against Blackpool at Bloomfield Road.

The Tangerines were 1-0 up inside five minutes when Jordan Rhodes scored his first goal for the club.

Wigan’s Josh Magennis headed Latics level with a minute of normal time left to play, but Kenny Dougall capped a crazy conclusion to the contest by scoring the winner in the fourth minute of injury time.

However, Maloney was more concerned about his team’s first-half performance than the late goal.

He said: “What I saw from the team in the last 20 minutes is everything that I want from our team, but we have to learn pretty quickly that we can’t just waste a half of football.

“It was the first half that I was probably most disappointed with. The goal at the end, however disappointing, I can’t have any criticism of our players.

“The biggest thing I have to impress is the first half, we can’t waste a half of football like that.

“What I’m finding out as well is it’s a really big game, a really big opponent in this league, and that we have to be a bit more aggressive and understand when we can really attack now that we’re getting teams to give us the ball.

“It was the same at Barnsley and we have to understand the balance between being patient, but when a team does give you that space or we can create, we have to be more aggressive.

“But we just can’t waste a half and then expect to win the game.”

In stark contrast, Blackpool boss Neil Critchley was delighted to see his side play so well in the opening 45 minutes.

“I felt we were comfortable in the first half against a really good football team and then we had chances in the second half to kill the game off,” said Critchley.

“The goalkeeper has made some great saves, and you know that while it is 1-0, they can throw more attackers on, and you are just hoping that you either kill the game off at the other end or that you can see the game out and we didn’t quite see it out.

“I’m delighted with the result. I think we deserved it to be honest with the chances that we created in the game. We showed tremendous character and started really well.

“The three subs combined, Owen (Dale) to Matty (Virtue) to Kenny (Dougall), they made an impact when they came on and it was a brilliant feeling for the players.

“They deserved that and I don’t think they have had what they deserved in some of the other games recently.”

Barnsley boss Neill Collins praised in-form Devante Cole for his work rate after his sixth goal of the season helped fire them to a 2-0 win at struggling Cheltenham.

Cole opened the scoring early in the second half after a slick counter-attack, with substitute Max Watters adding the second in stoppage time.

Collins’ side were up against it for much of the first half, but a series of saves from Liam Roberts ensured Cheltenham remain goalless this season.

And the Tykes’ second half secured a third win of the season, lifting them to eighth in the Sky Bet League One table.

“Devante took his goal so well,” Collins said. “He’s working so hard and deserves his goals.

“They put us under pressure, but our keeper stood tall.

“The second half was the most pleasing thing. We came out and put them under pressure and upped the speed and tempo of our passing.

“The first goal came from a counter-attack, but we had a few good chances before that.

“We had to defend well after taking the lead, but when teams throw caution to the wind, I think we can take advantage of that.

“I thought the game was made for Max at that point in the game. I’m glad he got on and got his reward.

“We’ve got great strength in depth and now have to come together for the good of Barnsley.”

Cole struck in the 54th minute at the end of a swift counter-attack from the Tykes after Kacper Lopata headed away a Cheltenham corner.

It was four against one and John McAtee fed Nicky Cadden, who in turn set up Cole to slot past Luke Southwood.

Watters added the second in the second minute of time added on after Southwood blocked Aiden Marsh’s effort.

Barnsley had Roberts to thank for being on level terms at half-time as Cheltenham attempted to end their long wait for a goal this season.

Roberts denied Rob Street at his near post in the 10th minute and made an even better save to turn Lewis Freestone’s header over six minutes later.

At the other end Jack Shepherd’s header hit a post and bounced into the arms of Southwood just before the break.

Cole opened the scoring before Nicky Cadden thumped an effort against a post on the hour.

Street forced Roberts into a one-handed save in the 61st minute and the Robins have now gone more than 10 hours without a goal, with Watters compounding their misery in the final moments.

Robins boss Wade Elliott saw enough positives from his team’s performance to believe their fortunes will soon change.

“I don’t think the result reflected the game or the performance,” he said.

“It’s obviously a tough one to take, especially off the back of where we are at the minute.

“We made loads of chances and I am not sure how it’s stayed out. The goalkeeper has made a couple of worldy saves, we’ve had a couple of opportunities, so that is the positive.

“The fans were really supportive and I think they could appreciate the performance, recognise the effort, they are not dummies and they watched the game and will realise on a different day, it could get you a completely different outcome.”

Delighted Ian Evatt reckons second-placed Bolton finally came of age by beating a potential Sky Bet League One promotion rival in their 2-1 win over Derby.

Last season’s play-off semi-finalists slumped to a 4-0 hammering by Wigan on their last home appearance and have often flattered to deceive against supposed fancied teams.

But despite falling behind to Conor Hourihane’s 33rd-minute penalty, Wanderers hit back in a game that saw Derby reduced to 10-men after goalkeeper Joe Wildsmith’s dismissal.

Dion Charles scored an equalising spot-kick before the break to register his fifth goal in as many games.

And after Wildsmith’s sending off after 48 minutes for handling a goal bound Charles shot, Bolton grabbed a 65th-minute winner when Josh Dacres-Cogley’s effort looped off Tyrese Fornah and over substitute keeper Josh Vickers.

“For the first time we showed up against a direct competitor and played the way I know we can,” said Evatt.

“We started exactly how we should have done, but didn’t in the Wigan game.

“We were on the front foot, we were aggressive, we won duels, we played with tempo and we had them penned in for large periods.

“We conceded a goal and it would have been easy for the players to feel sorry for ourselves.

“It would have been easy for fans in the stadium to feel sorry for themselves. But I think the way the majority backed the players today, it was rocking.

“We got ourselves back in the game and I thought it was a deserved three points in the end.

“The sending off almost didn’t help us. Derby almost sacrificed attacking until the last five minutes which were a bit edgy because of the last couple of weeks.”

Derby boss Paul Warne described Wildsmith’s red card as “on the shade of harsh”, but reckoned his team’s defeat was partially self-inflicted.

“I could not tell whether the ball hit him on the chest or his arm,” said Warne.

“What I can say it is difficult for a goalkeeper if it gets smashed at him from 10 yards not to naturally react.”

Warne also pointed to a possible second penalty after first-half culprit Victor Adeboyejo clumsily challenged substitute Sonny Bradley.

“The lad is not looking at the ball and puts him (Bradley) on the floor, which isn’t easy considering Sonny is 6’4”,” Warne added.

“It was frustrating, but that aside I don’t think we were good enough in the first half. Or as good as we should be.

“I keep saying they are better than what they think. They need to play with more courage.”

Warne also confirmed Jake Rooney faces a lengthy absence after suffering a knee injury in the early stages of the first half, which led to Bradley’s introduction.

Port Vale boss Andy Crosby saluted the character of his team, and Alfie Devine’s coolness under pressure, after his team regrouped to snatch a winner deep into stoppage time in a dramatic 2-1 success at nine-man Oxford.

Alex Iacovitti’s 63rd-minute goal for Vale was cancelled out by Greg Leigh’s equaliser three minutes into time added on at the end.

That looked to be how the game would finish, with Oxford undoubtedly the happier with the result having had both Mark Harris and then Leigh sent off moments after his goal for a second yellow card.

However, in the game’s dying seconds, eight minutes into stoppage time, Fin Stevens fouled Ben Garrity and Devine stepped up to calmly convert the penalty to earn Vale a memorable victory.

Crosby said: “All credit to the players, it was a great response in the second half.

“In the first half we allowed a really good team to dominate the ball and couldn’t get out of that block.

“The sending-off of Harris allowed us to get a control of the game. We got ourselves in front from a set play, which we had spoken about pre-game, because we had looked to see if we could identify potential weaknesses they might have. We’re disappointed we couldn’t hold on to that.

“Their threat was mainly in transition and we knocked off a bit in the box, and then the game is looking like we have maybe lost two points.

“But then we find a great pass in the final third, Ben (Garrity) takes a lovely touch too when facing their goalie and gets brought down – and I’m thinking all three of our penalty takers have come off the pitch!

“I’m looking around and thinking ‘make a decision quick’ – and all credit to Alfie, to take that penalty in that pressurised situation says a lot about him and epitomises everything about my group.”

Oxford head coach Liam Manning admitted it was a difficult result to take, saying: “There’s huge frustration from my point of view.

“All credit to Port Vale for the win, but to me it was that we lost it.

“We have spoken a lot about behaviour and discipline and really that went out the window in the second half.

“I’ve seen the video of the Mark Harris incident and it does appear to be an elbow, so I’ve got no complaints about that. The ref’s performance, to my mind, contributed to all that.

“We showed spirit and intensity to get back into the game – you can’t then have another mad moment as we did.

“Let’s be honest, we don’t often train with nine men. It was an emotional afternoon for everyone.

“I was pleased with elements of the first half, when I thought we were in control, but in the second half we started too slowly.

“I’ve spoken with Mark (Harris) – we shouldn’t be giving the officials the opportunity to make those decisions. We shifted the momentum away from us with those sendings-off.

“Yes, you don’t want something like that, but it did happen and it’s then a question of how you respond. The main thing is that we stay focused.

“But let’s remember, we have had a terrific run of results and the biggest thing for me is remembering just how far we have come.”

Northampton boss Jon Brady was left fuming at the officials after claiming “two bad decisions” cost his side during their 1-0 home defeat to Wycombe.

Richard Keogh scored the only goal after five minutes at Sixfields but Brady felt the initial free-kick in the build up should never have been awarded.

His side went on to dominate the rest of the game, taking 20 shots to Wycombe’s seven, but they were unable to turn their pressure into goals.

“It’s a tough one to come away from that game and not have anything to show for our efforts but it’s two poor decisions from the referee,” said Brady.

“It’s not a free-kick in the first place and then when the ball comes in, Kieron (Bowie) gets back on the line to head it out but (Garath) McCleary and Keogh are on the line with him and they’re both offside.

“We don’t defend it right because Mitch (Pinnock) gets a nick on the ball when he goes to clear it and Max (Thompson) has to adjust at the last second but Kieron does brilliantly on the line and it should be offside.

“The officials got it wrong and we were two bad decisions from taking at least a point. We totally dominated, we pulled them apart and it was just the execution in the penalty box that let us down.”

Wycombe manager Matt Bloomfield admitted it was far from the ideal performance by his side but he felt delighted to make it successive away wins.

He said: “It’s been a tiring week but I think the boys showed real character and grit. It probably wasn’t the performance we wanted in terms of how the game went.

“But we got the early goal and we showed the determination to see that through and it’s obviously very pleasing to get another win away from home.

“We were chuffed to start on the front foot but I think it might have impacted the psychology of the game and we changed formation a couple of times to try and get a foothold in the game.

“We’re happy with the result but you always want more, but the lads were excellent in the way we went about it tactically and a lot of their shots came from outside of the box.

“We knew they would do that because Northampton like to take a lot of shots with the likes of Sam Hoskins and Mitch Pinnock but I felt like we kept them at arm’s length.

“The subs came on and made a big difference in the second half so it was a real squad effort today and I’m really pleased with that.”