Grimsby strengthened their League Two survival bid with an important 1-0 win over MK Dons at Blundell Park.

Justin Obikwu settled the scores with a first-half winner to put David Artell’s men six points above the relegation zone with 10 matches to play.

Grimsby started brightly and took first aim in the fifth minute when Obikwu fired goalwards and Michael Kelly saved with his legs.

Dan Kemp flashed wide at the other end with a cross-shot and the Dons had long spells on the ball without creating any clear-cut chances.

Obikwu netted in the 33rd minute when reacting quickest to an initial strike from Abo Eisa, while Grimsby then passed up a golden opportunity to make it 2-0 from the penalty spot moments before half-time.

Gavan Holohan stepped up and his high kick was saved by Kelly.

Dons pushed and probed for a way back into the game after the restart and Kemp came closest to grabbing an equaliser when his low drive was palmed off-target by Grimsby’s Harvey Cartwright.

Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson said his side’s victory at 10-man  Morecambe could prove to be one of their best away wins of the season.

Parkinson saw his side come from behind to claim a 3-1 victory despite gifting Morecambe a fourth-minute lead through Ged Garner.

Goals from James McClean, Paul Mullin and Steven Fletcher earned the visitors the three points against a home side who had Max Melbourne sent off early in the second half.

The win kept Wrexham in the Sky Bet League Two automatic promotion spots, with Parkinson saying: “I knew this was going to be a very difficult game for us so it was a huge win against a side in good form who fancy their chances of making the play-offs.

“It was a bad start for us and it took us a little while to get going but as the second half wore on we got better and better.

“We needed to scrap out a result in those conditions and I felt we did that really well today.

“When they went down to 10 men we kept plugging away, because it is not a given that you will go on to win the game.

“But we kept the momentum up and I was really pleased with the professionalism we showed. We now have two home games coming up this week and we will look to build on this.”

Garner gave the home side the lead after taking advantage of some poor goalkeeping from Arthur Okonkwo, who recklessly raced from his goal.

The Shrimps looked comfortable until skipper Jacob Bedeau gifted them an equaliser with a poor backpass that allowed Mullin the chance to tee up McClean for an emphatic finish from 12 yards out.

Morecambe were reduced to 10 men just four minutes into the second half when Melbourne clipped Ollie Palmer and received a soft second yellow card.

The visitors took advantage of the extra man with Mullin sending Archie Mair  the wrong way from the spot after David Tutonda was adjudged to have handled Elliot Lee’s shot.

The visitors then saw Ollie Lee come close to a third on several occasions before substitute Fletcher headed home a left-wing cross from six yards out to seal the victory for the visitors.

Morecambe boss Ged Brannan said his side played a huge part in their own downfall after allowing Wrexham back into the game and criticised referee Thomas Parsons for his decisions to send off Melbourne and give the visitors a spot-kick.

He said: “We were cruising and playing some great stuff when we gifted them a way back into the game with a poor backpass when they weren’t really troubling us.

“We were a bit sloppy at the start of the second half but then the referee gave a ridiculous sending off and then a penalty that never was and we were behind with 10 men.

“I was always going to be tough from then on but the lads never gave up and worked their socks off and when we should have had a penalty late in the game we didn’t get one.

“Wrexham are a really good team but I thought they got a lot of help from the referee.”

Forest Green boss Steve Cotterill was full of praise after goalkeeper Vicente Reyes produced a man-of-the-match display to help his struggling side upset League Two play-off hopefuls Walsall 2-O.

The on-loan Norwich and Chile Under-23 shotstopper denied Isaac Hutchinson from the penalty spot and kept out a point-blank effort from Josh Gordon as 10-man Walsall went home empty-handed.

“Vinny has been fantastic ever since he’s been here,” the manager said. “He’s a great lad and will get plaudits today and rightfully so. But it is always a team effort – Walsall have had other chances and we’ve got some great blocks in.

“It is all about staying in the game. When things get tough for you, you have to dig in even harder and do all the horrible things.

“The boys at the back gave us a good foundation to build off and they are a little more cohesive with each other.”

And with the win edging Forest Green to within two points of safety, Cotterill said there was still plenty to pay for.

He added: “We need to try and get above the line. When I came in it was nine points and we’ve managed to chip away with it.

“There are going to be bumps in the road and further twists and turns but it’s about us being focused, determined, working hard and being honest because we’re not going to turn into the best club in the league.”

It was Walsall who started the better but failed to test Reyes and instead, visiting goalkeeper Jackson Smith made the first save of the afternoon when he kept out a Charlie McCann effort.

Gordon missed the best chance of the half when he managed to guide the ball into the arms of Reyes from close range just before the break and the keeper then denied the same player with his outstretched foot at the start of the second period.

The game swung after 64 minutes when a quick break from the hosts saw Christian Doidge hit the post and Emmanuel Osadebe tucked away the rebound.

Walsall’s misery continued when Reyes brilliantly saved Hutchinson’s penalty and then, moments later, David Okagbue was sent off.

Salt was rubbed into the visitors’ wounds after 81 minutes when McAllister fired in a penalty at the other end to wrap up the points.

Disappointed Walsall manager Mat Sadler said: “It felt like one of those days. They are fighting for their lives and if we don’t take our chances then it gives them a little bit of momentum.

“I thought we were the team on the front foot but we have to dust ourselves down now and go again. It’s just another element of the winding road of the season.

“We have a very together squad who are desperate to do something and we always believe in ourselves.”

Crawley boss Scott Lindsey admitted Klaidi Lolos would be too good for the League Two play-off hopefuls if he added more goals to his game following his brilliant winner against Harrogate.

The 23-year-old Greek striker sealed a 2-1 comeback win when he slammed in a thunderbolt from the edge of the box after he had deftly lifted the ball from his right foot to left.

He had earlier teed up Harry Forster for a second-half equaliser to cancel out George Thomson’s 13th goal of the season for the hosts.

Lolos’ match-winning goal was only his sixth league effort of the campaign, however, and Lindsey said: “It was an unbelievable goal and a great bit of skill. He has terrific technique and, if he could add goals to his game, I don’t think he’d be with us in League Two.

“He could play a lot higher. There are a lot of occasions when he drives into the box and, then, wants an extra touch, but we’re coaching him to make the right decisions at the right moments, because he has so much ability and I don’t think there’s a ceiling for him.”

Victory kept Crawley within striking distance of the play-off positions and Lindsey is challenging his players to target a top-seven finish.

“Their goal rocked us a bit, but the message at half-time was that we are in a position and a point in the season where we need to win games,” he said. “Our season isn’t over and I keep banging that drum with the players.

“We’re still alive and kicking and right in there with a chance. I wanted their keeper to be busier than he had been and for us to be braver and more of an attacking threat and we certainly were in the second half.”

A run of six games without a win, meanwhile, has seen Harrogate’s own promotion aspirations doused with manager Simon Weaver lamenting the defensive efforts of his side, who have kept just one clean sheet in their last
19 home games.

He said: “I’m disappointed with the way we came out for the second half, because everything was there for us to go on and get a result after the first half. We’d scored a fantastic goal and were doing the gritty side of the game well.

“But we did not defend anywhere near well enough to cope with the pressure they put us under at the start of the second half. We had enough numbers back for their goals but there were individuals who were two yards off play.

“You have to get closer and make a tackle and we’ve got to find a way to fight ourselves out of this blip, because I don’t want us to limp over the line this season through malaise and a lack of adrenalin.

“We’ve got to show a consistent energy and desire to make a difference.”

Graham Coughlan vented his fury at the officials after Newport conceded a last-gasp goal to lose 1-0 at Stockport in Sky Bet League Two.

Paddy Madden put his earlier penalty miss behind him with a dramatic stoppage-time winner, finally finding a way past goalkeeper Nick Townsend – who did brilliantly to palm his 73rd-minute spot-kick away.

But while Stockport had been utterly dominant, it was the performance of Tom Reeves in the middle that enraged the Exiles boss, particularly the awarding of a free-kick award that led to Madden’s late strike.

“Stockport were obviously the better team, we expected that because they’re up at that end of the table for a reason,” boss Coughlan said.

“The pressure was relentless but our lads stood tall. We didn’t have a particularly good game with the ball but defensively we were organised and structured.

“Nick Townsend was outstanding but the good teams get decisions and the breaks of the ball.

“On the whole Stockport probably deserved to win the game, let’s have that right, but under the circumstances we deserved to come away with a clean sheet, given the defensive structure, the organisation and the commitment that the lads showed.

“I can’t get away from the standard of the officiating though, it’s week in, week out. It’s absolute nonsense and it’s very hard to accept.

“I have to laugh, to be quite honest, because I’m all for battling and for fighting but, please, if you’re going to go and manage the game like that throughout don’t give them a foul like that right at the end when the rules have gone out of the window.

“We don’t get treated fairly and that’s the hard part. We need someone to look at the decisions and make a call. It’s not just today, it’s gone on all season and it’s become a bit of a pantomime.”

Stockport boss Dave Challinor admitted he felt victory was slipping away before Madden’s instinctive strike gave the Hatters their first win in five games, keeping them second.

“You never write it off because you know what football’s like, it changes in a moment,” he said.

“You always have that little bit of hope but the longer it goes on the smaller that hope gets.

“It can be one deflection, something dropping for you in the box to get an opportunity, so to win is great.

“Would I like to have won in a better manner? Absolutely, but the most important thing is three points and we’ve got that.

“The keeper was saving everything. I would have liked to have worked him more with what we had, we were sloppy in possession and gave the ball away far too much for a team of our ability.

“Playing on a bowling green of a pitch, we turned the ball over far too often, especially in the first half and that didn’t allow us to maintain or sustain attacks.

“Did we do enough with the possession we had? No, I think we need to do more, that always helps if you score early.

“We had chances but the keeper made some decent saves, you’ll always question if it’ll be one of those days when you miss a penalty but thankfully today that wasn’t the case.”

Pete Wild insisted he was never close to pushing the panic button at Barrow after a 2-0 win over Colchester made it two in a row following a three-match losing run.

The Cumbrians left it late in each half but goals from Kian Spence and substitute Sam Foley ensured back-to-back victories for the first time since December.

The Bluebirds are now five points clear of eighth place in League Two and Wild revealed he was not overly concerned by his team’s February dip in form.

“Round here everyone seems to make a catastrophe of every defeat,” he shrugged. “I have no idea why.

“I know what we have and what we would come back to. I would suggest every team loses football matches.

“Leicester lost three in a row and they have a £60million budget. No one is making a catastrophe of their situation.

“We are not immune to getting beat. It may happen again but hopefully it doesn’t. It wasn’t a blip.

“We have 59 points now, we had 62 in the whole of last season. We need to match that and move on which will show real progress again.

“Early in the season, we were winning in different ways and this week we are back to doing that again.

“If you can get back-to-back home wins in this league it can propel you.”

Spence curled in a superb right-footed free-kick to put Barrow ahead after referee Scott Jackson gave a contentious foul on Cole Stockton.

With Colchester desperate to salvage a point in stoppage-time, Dom Telford and Ben Whitfield combined and the latter’s cross was steered home from close range by Foley.

“I thought Colchester were decent,” said Wild. “For where they are in the league they played some good stuff but defensively I thought we coped with them throughout.”

Colchester’s defeat was just their second in nine games but six draws in that period leaves them only two points above the relegation zone.

Manager Danny Cowley – who was critical of the free-kick award in Stockton’s favour – said: “This is not a time for fraction. This is not a time for in-fighting.

“Anybody who has Colchester United in their hearts must fight for this. This is not an 11-man job.

“Our lives depend on this. We are proud people. Any relegation lives with you forever.

“You get a team relegated out of the Football League it stays with you forever. That will be with you on your dying day.

“We have 11 games and a wonderful opportunity to make sure that doesn’t happen.

“I didn’t see enough quality but I saw enough endeavour, fight and spirit to know we will be fine.

“I am not worried because I believe in the players.

“We need to add more of a goal threat but we are having good control of games.”

Gillingham manager Stephen Clemence believes that his side had victory stolen from them as Tim Dieng’s late goal was ruled out for a handball as they recorded a 1-1 League Two draw at home to Tranmere.

Conor Masterson scored his sixth league goal of the season to rescue a point for Gillingham late on against a resilient Tranmere, who went ahead in the fifth minute through Regan Hendry.

Gillingham thought they won it even later when Dieng rifled the ball home at close range, but the linesman was quick to rule it out for a handball.

Clemence said: “I feel today we were probably robbed of all three points. I looked straightway at the linesman and referee, not for a handball but for offside.

“To then to be told it’s for a handball is a big decision for a linesman to make when he is that far away in my opinion.

“I think with VAR if it touches someone’s hand it is probably disallowed, I am not sure that is the same in League Two from what I have seen this season.”

Despite not gaining three points, Gillingham did manage to return to the play-off spots and will play eighth-place AFC Wimbledon in a crunch clash on Tuesday.

Clemence said: “I was surprised that when we took a point from this game that we actually moved up the table by two spots.

“But that is the division we are in. There are a lot of strange results and I would rather be higher up the table, but if we got three points, we would be in a far stronger position.

“I do believe the group can beat anyone and with nine games to go we are in a good position and there is another big game to go on Tuesday.”

Tranmere led the game for 80 minutes and in the first half went deservedly ahead, but – following a Gillingham siege after the break – Nigel Adkins’ side defended robustly.

The club that sit 17th in in the table hurriedly thwarted any Gillingham opportunity and on top of their quality on the ball in the first half, showed strong character in the second.

Adkins said: “It was a super finish and what a threat we are on the counter attack. We did really well and we nearly won in the end.

“I can’t speak highly enough. We missed our captain today (Tom Davies) and Connor Jennings stepped up to the mark and he was exceptional.

“When we talk about the team, together everyone achieves more. We have a culture; we want to learn and we want to improve.

“We have a team culture because there are players who have maybe not played and come in and put their body on the line for the cause, which is Tranmere Rovers Football Club.”

Nigel Clough felt Mansfield were mentally sloppy during their hard-fought 3-2 win over Swindon and warned his players they cannot afford to let errors creep in at this stage of the season.

Looking to bounce back from their 2-1 midweek defeat to MK Dons, Mansfield were quickly out of the blocks and took a fourth-minute lead through Lucas Akins as well as going close through Hiram Boateng, Davis Keillor-Dunn and Akins, who clipped the post.

But the League Two leaders could not add to their lead and were pegged back to 2-2 by the hour mark so Swindon duo Paul Glatzel and Aaron Drinan struck either side of a Keillor-Dunn goal.

Mansfield were not level for long though, Will Swan netting soon after coming on as a 65th minute substitute to make it 3-2, and the home side held on to remain three points clear at the top of the table.

However, Clough knows his side should have made things much more comfortable for themselves at One Call Stadium.

He said: “We made hard work of it.

“We should have got more goals in the opening 10-15 minutes. That was a good opportunity for us, they have some very dangerous players as we saw who can hurt you.

“We were sloppy today, mentally more than anything, after three games in a week.

“We got the early goal and should have gone again. The chances were there in that first period. We could have put the game to bed, there are no mistakes at this stage of the season.

“Davis (Keillor-Dunn) should be doing more with the situations he got into today to get the second goal.

“I know he has got 18 goals but he is getting the ball in the right areas and he is choosing the wrong option.

“He is not doing what he did for the second goal. He dropped his shoulder and it was a wonderful finish. He has been in that position six or seven times today and that is the only time he tried it, I don’t understand why he is laying it off.”

Swindon’s interim head coach Gavin Gunning was frustrated by his side’s slow start as the Robins slumped to a 15th defeat of the season.

“It is a frustrating result,” he said. “There are so many positives, but a defeat is a defeat.

“When you concede goals that are a horror show like that it is a frustrating afternoon.

“We were chasing things after the opening five minutes. Once we grew into the game it was much of a muchness.

“Swan was unmarked for their winner, that is just having the desire to get close and have contact with him in the box. We work on that all week and getting tight to players.

“The first five/10 minutes we were all over the place and then we grew into it and had our moments.

“It is frustrating. It is tough to get the words out, we went toe-to-toe with one of the best teams in the league, but we conceded some horror show goals.

“We score and then switch off. We didn’t mark in the box and we conceded, it’s simple.”

Grimsby boss David Artell felt a “horrific” refereeing decision cost his side dear in their 1-1 draw at Sutton.

Justin Obikwu fired the visitors in front on the stroke of half-time.

But the Mariners squandered a number of chances to put the game to bed before an 88th-minute Charlie Lakin penalty, for handball in the box, rescued a point for the Football League basement boys.

But Artell, whose side are five points clear of the drop zone, said: “I thought the game should have been done and dusted and we should have wrapped the game up long before we’ve been on the end of a horrific refereeing decision so we’ve only got ourselves to blame.

“We don’t want to see referees like that.

“I was generally pleased with the performance. If that game had ended 3-0 I don’t think anybody would have complained.

“But it didn’t. The longer the game went on the more you give them a chance to get back into it.

“They had some balls into the box and some blocks, some headers and stuff. I didn’t particularly feel we would be opened up and we didn’t.

“We were just on the end of a horrific decision. It happens.

“It feels like two points dropped because we were by far the better team.

“If we had our shooting boots on then we would have been out of sight long before the last 10 minutes.”

Sutton secured a point in the right direction to leave themselves five shy of safety with nine games to go.

And boss Steve Morison said: “It’s the worst we’ve played, but we stuck at it and got a point.

“I’m frustrated with the performance. The pressure got hold of us a little bit and we didn’t handle it very well.

“We were second to too many balls. But credit to the players we stuck at it.

“We needed some big saves from Arnie [Steve Arnold] at times. It looked like it wasn’t going to be our day, but I’m pleased we’ve managed to get a point out of the game.

“You have to try and find the positive and that’s the positive for today, that we’ve got a point from that performance.

“It’s a stonewall penalty, I know they’re going to be upset about it and we’ll say it’s a penalty, but that’s just life.

“We just weren’t good enough, but I’m pleased we’ve not been good enough and got a point. I’d have been gutted standing here if we had lost because our performance didn’t deserve anything, but I’m pleased we got something.”

Doncaster boss Grant McCann wants his side to keep their foot firmly on the accelerator heading towards the end of the season.

Rovers triumphed 2-0 over promotion-chasing Crewe to make it four wins from seven in League Two and put further daylight between themselves and the drop zone.

And McCann wants there to be no thoughts of next season from his players until the final game has been played.

“I’m not the sort of person that would ever let a season peter out,” he said. “The players know that and they know I wasn’t happy with them at half-time because I felt when we scored, we took our foot off the gas.

“I gently reminded them at half-time that we won’t allow that at this football club. We want them to put the foot on the gas and go and get the next goal, no matter who we are playing.

“We want to keep the positivity and the season certainly won’t peter out. We will be ultra-competitive in every single game. This one is done and we’re onto the next one.

“I thought we played well. We were very controlled in the game and scored two goals from set plays which was good because we haven’t done that enough this season.”

Hakeeb Adelakun scored directly from a corner after 17 minutes to put Doncaster ahead before veteran midfielder Tommy Rowe poked home from close range after the break to send the hosts on their way to a comfortable win.

Crewe manager Lee Bell urged his players not to focus on the position in which they find themselves in the table and get back to concentrating on picking up wins.

The defeat at Doncaster was the second in a row for Alex and damages their push for automatic promotion, with Bell calling on his side to not let that weigh too heavily on them.

“I think we’ve got to just relax a little bit,” he said. “The situation we’re in is still a good one and I’ve told the players to relax and play with the freedom. There were a few heavy touches and maybe that is a reflection on the position we’re in.

“We’ve got to forget about that and concentrate on performing in games because the end result is what matters. If we’re able to relax and pick up performances again like we have been all season, we should be somewhere near.

“It’s a disappointing result. On the back of what happened last weekend for us we wanted a response and it’s not quite happened for us today.

“It was a tough result to take and there’s certainly a lot for us to improve on with our performance.”

Salford manager Karl Robinson believes his side were the better team despite succumbing to a 3-1 loss to MK Dons.

Matt Smith had put the visitors ahead early on only for the Dons to turn the game on its head as Kyran Lofthouse, Alex Gilbey and Emre Tezgel all netted in a frantic first half.

After the break, both sides were more sedate, but Robinson believes the better-performing side were not rewarded with the points.

“I felt that for a large part of that first half, we were by far the better team and second half, they did not have a shot on target,” Robinson said.

“You can clearly see it’s a better performance from us, but the result is the only thing that matters.

“We need to win. That’s a habit and is something expected of you by the football club, so we need to win.”

Smith bundled home a rebound to see Salford into the lead in the 12th minute before Lofthouse equalised 15 minutes later as he found the bottom corner.

Gilbey put the hosts ahead with a perfectly placed chip from just outside the box, and the comeback was completed before the first half was through as Tezgel’s header was deflected in by Smith.

Robinson bemoaned a missed penalty shout but also acknowledged his side’s lack of discipline as they failed to win for the fourth game in a row.

He added: “I don’t think they were good enough to beat us by 3-1.

“I feel that we were by far the better team for 20-25 minutes, but I thought we just went completely rogue in our lack of shape and discipline. We had stern words at half-time.

“The penalty the referee missed in the first half is unbelievable. It’s a clear elbow into the player’s face after getting contact with the football.

“It’s OK having a go at the referee but we then made stupid mistakes. It just seems at this moment in time that when things go a little down and flat, they revert to type, being open and not great on transitions.”

For MK Dons, the victory sees them sit just two points off the automatic promotion places in fourth.

Head coach Mike Williamson said: “The boys found a way, which is the important thing, especially at this stage.

“We didn’t start too well and if I’m being honest, I was furious at half-time.

“But the boys disarmed that because they came in and they were angry and were digging each other out.

“We were tired and we can’t allow that to happen, but the scoreline’s 3-1 at half-time and that just emphasises the quality that we’ve got and some of our play when we get it right.”

Johnnie Jackson described his AFC Wimbledon’s side’s performance as ‘vintage’ following their 2-0 victory over Notts County at Meadow Lane.

The victory was only their sixth success away from home, but two goals in the final 10 minutes sees the Dons go three games unbeaten in Sky Bet League Two.

“I think it was vintage Wimbledon,” said Jackson. “It was a brilliant away performance and everything you want and expect from a Wimbledon team.

“They showed graft, hard work for the shirt, (were) very disciplined. We came with a game plan and the lads were outstanding in carrying it out.”

It was the third consecutive time Wimbledon had kept a clean sheet this season, something Jackson insisted was pivotal against a side with the attacking qualities of Notts County.

“I am delighted, that is now three clean sheets in a row. We have been defending very well but you know coming here with the players that they have got, you are going to have to do that for sure.

“They are a good team and move the ball well and they have got lots of threats at the top end of the pitch, so if you don’t defend properly here you can become really unstuck.

“The moments they did have with the balls coming into the box, we dealt with it, but our defensive structure starts from the front and to a man they did it brilliantly.”

Jackson also revealed goalscorer Kofi Balmer, on loan from Crystal Palace, had discussed the team’s lack of aerial threat so was delighted with his header late on.

“We know we have got that long throw that Kofi has got and it is a weapon, so we have to use that and I don’t apologise for using that.

“It feels like forever with teams using that against my teams so to have the opportunity to have that is something we need to use.

“It’s paid off today and caused problems for their defence, so he gets an assist I suppose for that one, but more importantly he comes up with a header which is really pleasing because it is something we have spoken about a lot in that we haven’t scored a lot of those, and they can be the difference.”

For Magpies boss Stuart Maynard, the wait for a first home win continues having lost his fourth consecutive fixture since his move from Wealdstone.

Maynard said: “I think we were in control of the game with the ball, I don’t think we could been in any more control.

“But it’s getting to the point where we are at. It’s been happening all season with these types of goals we keep conceding, which is so frustrating.

“It gets to a point where we’re not really equipped to deal with these teams’ threats and what they put in the box.”

Both of Wimbledon’s goals came from set-pieces on the afternoon, something that again frustrated Maynard, insisting his side are doing everything they can to rectify the issue to keep their play-off hopes alive.

He added: “We have to keep sticking together as a group and working on it on the training ground but ultimately it’s very hard to deal with teams’ threats in this league.

“At the minute and through the course of the whole season, we’ve not been able to deal with it.”

Manager Graham Alexander hailed ‘devastating’ Tyreik Wright after his double boosted in-form Bradford’s play-off charge with a 3-0 win at Accrington.

The Bantams opened the scoring after 12 minutes when Andy Cook flicked the ball on for Plymouth loan striker Wright, who fired past Radek Vitek.

It was two after 23 minutes when a Lewis Richards long throw left Wright one-on-one with Vitek and he slotted into the far corner.

Number three came after 38 minutes when the prolific Cook fired home his 16th goal of the season.

The win moved the Bantams to within five points of seventh place with two games in hand.

It is Wright’s second spell at Bradford, following a loan stint in 2022-23, and these were his first goals since returning in January.

Alexander said: “Tyreik played 60 minutes in the last game as we are aware he only played six or seven games in the last calendar year so it’s been a long time out.

“There is improvement with sharpness and overall play and we have to be patient with him to get to full blast.

“But even at 70/80 per cent, he can be as devastating as he was today, they were great finishes.

“I am delighted with the players, they got back to what we have been really good at, pressing Accrington at every opportunity and we were aggressive and ambitious with our play and passing and caused the problems.

“Three goals in the first half was a great bonus for us and we could have had a couple more in the second half but we made sure we didn’t give anything stupid away.

“We just have to keep putting points on our tally and see where it takes us.”

It’s been a week of turmoil at Accrington after long-serving manager John Coleman, at the helm for 23 years over two spells at the club, was sacked last Sunday by owner Andy Holt.

It was a fourth successive defeat for Stanley and interim boss John Doolan said: “The damage was done in the first half but we have some young lads who will learn from playing against their experienced players.

“It was tough, you can’t give those goals away and I was disappointed with the first-half performance but we showed great reactions in the second half.

“It’s been a difficult week but the lads don’t mean to make mistakes or give the ball away but the second-half reaction was good.

“I am proud of them for, in the second half, having a go, sticking to the task and hopefully that will put them in good stead going forward.

“I believe in the players. Whoever gets picked I want their heads up, I want them to stay together and we have a good squad of players, senior and very young.

“For me it’s one game at a time until I am told otherwise.”

Two goals in the final 10 minutes saw AFC Wimbledon emerge 2-0 victors against Notts County in Sky Bet League Two.

Substitute Connell Rawlinson’s own goal saw the visitors lead late on, with on-loan Kofi Balmer’s header doubling the Magpies woes, leaving them winless at home in 2024.

Dons almost found themselves in front within the first minute when Omar Bugiel saw the ball land at his feet inside the area, firing his shot over the crossbar.

Macaulay Langstaff squandered the best chance of the half after a neat one-two inside the area, only to place his effort well over.

The hosts’ top scorer almost made amends early in the second half but was unable to turn home Aaron Nemane’s delivery on the line.

Johnnie Jackson’s side would take the lead late on when Balmer’s throw-in was turned beyond his own goalkeeper by Rawlinson.

The lead was doubled five minutes later, with Ronan Curtis’ delivery from a corner headed powerfully beyond Sam Slocombe by Balmer for the Northern Ireland international’s first goal for Wimbledon since he joined on loan from Crystal Palace.

MK Dons maintained their promotion push as they came from behind to beat Salford 3-1 at Stadium MK.

Matt Smith gave Salford an early lead, but Kyran Lofthouse and Alex Gilbey’s goals would see the hosts come back to lead. A deflected Emre Tezgel goal in first-half stoppage time completed the scoring.

Victory means the Dons are two points off the automatic promotion places, while Salford suffered a fourth winless game in a row.

Former Dons boss Karl Robinson saw his Salford side strike first as Smith bundled in a rebound at a corner after Theo Vassell’s header was saved.

But two goals in four minutes turned the game in the Dons’ favour. First, Lofthouse cut inside and drilled a low shot into the bottom corner before Gilbey’s finely-placed chip from just outside the box found the top corner.

MK Dons scored a third in first-half stoppage time, as Tezgel’s header from a corner took a big deflection off Smith to wrong-foot Alex Cairns and go in as the hosts secured the points.