An own goal from Grimsby defender Toby Mullarkey proved decisive as Tranmere picked up a 2-1 win in their League Two match.

Mullarkey turned into his own net 10 minutes into the second half, with Rob Apter and Grimsby debutant Doug Tharme also on target at Blundell Park.

Chances were at a premium in the opening 45 minutes and it looked as though the deadlock would not be broken before half-time.

However, in a three-minute spell, Tranmere went in front when Apter curled home before debutant Tharme hit straight back from a Grimsby set-piece.

Tranmere restored their advantage in the 55th minute when Mullarkey turned into his own net from Apter’s low delivery.

Grimsby pushed and probed for a way back into the game, but Tranmere were able to keep them at arm’s length while posing a threat on the counter.

Danny Rose came closest to finding an equaliser as the Grimsby captain struck on-target and drew Luke McGee into a fingertip save in the 82nd minute.

Sky Bet League Two leaders Stockport showed their title credentials as they swept aside Doncaster in a thoroughly dominant 5-1 win.

Paddy Madden scored twice, with Connor Evans and Tanto Olaofe also finding the net alongside an Owen Bailey own goal as the Hatters ran riot at the Eco-Power Stadium and could easily have won by a greater margin.

Madden opened the scoring after five minutes when he headed home from a Macauley Southam-Hales corner.

It proved to be a familiar pattern as the visitors raced further clear. Evans stabbed the ball across goal after 10 minutes, with Bailey inadvertently heading into his own net.

The lead was extended on 33 minutes as Evans nodded in from an Ethan Bristow corner.

Madden popped up in front of goal mere seconds into the second half with a header from Southam-Hales’ cross.

And leading scorer Olaofe stooped with a diving header at the near post to make it five after 55 minutes.

Harrison Biggins turned in from close range on 65 minutes but it was scant consolation for well-beaten Doncaster.

Relegation-threatened Sutton slipped seven points from safety in Sky Bet League Two despite a 1-1 draw at Walsall.

Craig Eastmond cancelled out Walsall skipper Donervon Daniels’ delightful opener as Sutton recorded a third successive draw under new boss Steve Morison.

Walsall led after 18 minutes with a brilliant goal from central defender Daniels, who beat two challenges before curling into the top corner.

The lead lasted just five minutes as Eastmond’s 18-yard strike took a slight deflection past Walsall keeper Owen Evans.

Sutton should have gone ahead but an unmarked Charlie Lakin steered Deon Moore’s cross over from eight yards.

Walsall had another big let-off when keeper Evans tried to take on Lee Angol, was tackled and just about recovered in time to deny the striker an open goal.

Lakin fizzed a half-volley inches wide just before half-time but the break reinvigorated Walsall and Mo Faal steered just past the post early in the second half.

The Saddlers had the better chances to win it but Sutton keeper Dean Bouzanis foiled Tom Knowles’ drive and Josh Gordon’s spectacular overhead kick.

Steve Cotterill’s first game as Forest Green manager ended in defeat as his side lost 1-0 at home to Accrington.

Jack Nolan scored the only goal of the game from the penalty spot to send Accrington back into play-off contention.

Rovers remain rooted to the bottom of the table and are winless in the league since October.

Forest Green started the better team with a flurry of early chances but forward Matty Stevens guided Callum Jones’ low cross narrowly past the post in their best opening.

The visitors were awarded a penalty when Ryan Inniss upended Alex Henderson inside the area when it seemed certain goalkeeper Luke Daniels would claim the incoming cross.

Winger Nolan made no mistake and hammered his effort straight down the middle after 22 minutes.

The hosts made a flying start to the second half when Fankaty Dabo found Emmanuel Osadebe inside the area but his turn and shot went off target.

Jamie Robson delivered an inviting low cross for Stevens but he couldn’t divert his sliding effort goalwards and the visitors held on for all three points.

Aaron Nemane scored a first-half equaliser to ensure Stuart Maynard earned a point in his first game as Notts County manager as they claimed a 1-1 League Two draw at home to Barrow.

Kian Spence had given the visitors the lead early on, before Nemane levelled just before half-time on his 100th appearance for the club.

County goalkeeper Aidan Stone was called into action twice in quick succession as he denied Sam Foley’s shot with a fine save before tipping Cole Stockton’s effort over the crossbar.

But Barrow took the lead when Dom Telford’s deflected shot fell kindly into the path of Spence to head home.

However, the Magpies levelled the game shortly before half-time – Jodi Jones equalling the record for the most assists in a League Two season by teeing up Nemane at the back post.

The hosts continued to dominate, but almost fell behind again when Spence’s effort flew over the crossbar – Dan Crowley prodding an effort wide moments later.

Maynard was within inches of a victory during his first game but Jones’ teasing delivery was put over by top scorer Macaulay Langstaff.

Steve Cotterill has been appointed Forest Green’s new manager, tasked with trying to preserve their Football League status following Troy Deeney’s turbulent six-game spell.

Deeney was sacked last week having been in the role for just 29 days, during which time he apologised for an astonishing public outburst towards his players after a defeat at home to Harrogate.

He collected just three points from an available 18 in his first managerial job to leave Rovers rooted to the bottom of Sky Bet League Two and searching for their fifth permanent boss in less than a year.

Chairman Dale Vince has turned to the more experienced Cotterill, who counts Cheltenham, Stoke, Burnley, Notts County, Portsmouth, Nottingham Forest, Bristol City and Birmingham as his former clubs.

He has been out of work since leaving Shrewsbury last June after a two-and-a-half-year stint at the League One club and takes over a Forest Green side who are six points adrift of safety.

Cotterill will take charge of training on Thursday and is expected to be in the dugout for the visit of Accrington this weekend.

Vince said: “I’m delighted to welcome Steve Cotterill to FGR. His record speaks for itself with 25 years of experience in all leagues of the EFL, spanning nearly 900 games.

“Steve knows what it takes and shares our determination to avoid relegation this season. Then build our way back up to League One and looking upward again. I’m sure our fans will welcome this appointment.”

Salford boss Karl Robinson believes there is still plenty of room for improvement after maintaining his unbeaten start to the job.

A 1-1 draw at Bradford made it five points from three games since Robinson took over the Ammies helm from Neil Wood.

Salford continue to pull clear of trouble but Robinson was not satisfied with the away point.

Ryan Watson had given them the lead at Valley Parade but Bradford hit back six minutes later through Brad Halliday.

“It was frustrating,” said Robinson. “I felt we had a large part of the game under control.

“For us to pick up five points now, we have set our stall out on who we are as a team.

“The longer the game went on, I thought we were the ones asking the questions with shots and crosses.

“There’s an acceptance by the players and I think we can improve and don’t think we are anywhere near the team we hope to be.

“It’s another foot in the right direction but not what I expect to see.”

Robinson issued a rallying cry for more travelling supporters after 187 away fans made the trip over the Pennines.

“We need more fans, let’s not beat around the bush,” he said.

“The fans who turned out were brilliant but for this club to be what we want it to be, we’ve got to be a force on the road.

“Away days in the EFL are brilliant and I know it’s hard and these are difficult times but we appreciate everybody who comes to watch us.”

On-loan Plymouth forward Tyreik Wright had the best chance to win it in the second half for Bradford, who have now gone six games without a win.

Manager Graham Alexander said: “It was difficult, certainly in the first half. I don’t think we handled their threats as well as we could have and didn’t really make an imprint on them as an opponent.

“We got the equaliser and had a couple of set-pieces we definitely had the opportunity to get on the end of but didn’t. I was happy to get in at 1-1 at half-time to gee the boys up for a bit more tempo.

“It wasn’t a game for the purist, for either team. We had a bit more quality second half and had two chances where we could have scored but I couldn’t say that over the 90 minutes it was a game we deserved to win.

“We couldn’t get any momentum going, which we have done in most of the other games.

“In a tight game like that, one bit of quality turns it in favour of one team and we had the better opportunities in the second half to show that.”

MK Dons assistant head coach Ian Watson was delighted with the ruthless start his team made in their 3-1 victory over rivals AFC Wimbledon.

The Dons were made to rue missed chances in the first half of their defeat at home to Morecambe last Saturday, but there was no repeat as they surged into a 3-0 lead after 22 minutes.

They were then helped along by red cards to Wimbledon defenders Huseyin Biler and Paul Kalambayi in the second half as they moved up to sixth in League Two.

Watson, who took charge with head coach Mike Williamson absent due to a family bereavement, said: “It’s really nice when the goals go in.

“We said when we spoke previously about the performance being the most important thing but obviously everybody wants to win football matches, that’s why we do it.

“When we take the opportunities and the ball hits the back of the net, it’s such a good feeling and it really gave us that momentum from the first half.

“Then it was just about managing the game as best we possibly could and I thought the boys did that extremely well.

“We could have been a little bit cleaner with the ball at times but on a tough night with tough weather in a derby, I’m not going to complain.

“There were chances that we could have taken but the performance was really, really good and we’ll just keep focusing on the performance.”

Joe Tomlinson’s ball across goal allowed Dan Kemp to open the scoring for MK Dons, who were gifted a second by Ryan Johnson’s bizarre own goal before Warren O’Hora headed in their third.

Armani Little made the most of some careless play to pull one back for Wimbledon, but they finished with nine men following Biler and Kalambayi’s red cards.

Wimbledon boss Johnnie Jackson said: “Their first attack, they score, and we don’t defend it well enough at all and it gives them an impetus in the game.

“After that I thought we were way off it in that first half, unacceptable. We conceded another goal, we conceded from a set-play and it was just not recognisable from the team we’ve been so far this season.

“That bit’s hard to take because in the second half we did look like us, but we were way off it in that first period.

“I thought the first one is probably a red card but it’s no different to O’Hora at the end of the first half on [Josh] Davison, it was exactly the same.

“The second one, I don’t think there’s much contact from PK [on Max Dean], I thought that was harsh – if anything I think he’s tangled his own legs.”

Mansfield boss Nigel Clough was frustrated to see his side gift struggling Sutton an early goal in a 1-1 draw that cost them the chance to go second.

Lewis Brunt’s loose pass in the box allowed Lee Angol to smash Sutton ahead in the eighth minute, the Stags needing a 35th-minute equaliser from George Maris to take a share of the spoils in a game largely ruined by the winds of Storm Jocelyn.

“It was perfect conditions for an away side like Sutton,” said Clough.

“So what you don’t do in those circumstances is give a goal away, which we did after a few minutes.

“It was a pass that never should have been made in those circumstances by an inexperienced player.

“All you can do is keep going on about it and some people will take it on board and some won’t. But the team will be picked accordingly.”

Will Swan missed a great late chance to win it for Mansfield as he headed wide from close range.

“We pressed for a winner and the great chance fell to Will Swan with 10 minutes left – that was the game right there,” said Clough.

“Sutton defended very well, credit to them. They were very spirited and a very different proposition to the side we faced before Christmas under their new manager.

“We have to get back to how we were a month or two ago when we were keeping clean sheets – that is the foundation. We can’t stress it enough.

“We can’t keep giving these goals away. Teams who are trying to get promoted in the top three don’t give those goals away.”

After Oliver Sanderson missed an early chance for Sutton, Angol’s early blow against his former team was wiped out by Maris as he got on the end of a superb low Stephen McLaughlin cross from five yards at the near post.

But Lucas Akins headed over from close range after the break and Swan’s late miss meant the points were shared.

New Sutton boss Steve Morison said: “That was an excellent point. We scored a good goal and were in the game all the way.

“I am frustrated with Mansfield’s goal, but they are a good team and we have gone toe to toe with them and it’s another point in the right direction.

“We are a really good team with good players. They just need to believe they are good players. We are working extremely hard to give them that confidence and belief.

“They are working on things and taking the information on board which I think you could see tonight.

“We can go toe to toe with anyone and we are going to be a proposition for anyone in this league for the rest of the season, and hopefully start turning these points into wins and closing the gap.”

Dan Kemp’s first goal for MK Dons set the hosts on their way to a 3-1 victory over nine-man AFC Wimbledon that lifted them up to sixth in League Two.

Three goals in the first 22 minutes were enough for MK Dons to see off their bitter rivals, who had Huseyin Biler and Paul Kalambayi sent off in the second half for professional fouls on Max Dean.

The hosts were ahead in the 10th minute when Joe Tomlinson got beyond Biler before his low ball allowed Kemp to tap in from close range.

Their lead was doubled in calamitous fashion six minutes later when Wimbledon centre-back Ryan Johnson sliced a hurried clearance over Alex Bass into his own net.

It got even worse for the visitors when an unmarked Warren O’Hora headed Ethan Robson’s cross into the bottom corner to score MK Dons’ third.

Armani Little pounced on a sloppy short goal kick to pull one back for Wimbledon eight minutes into the second half, but their comeback hopes were killed off by straight red cards to Biler and Kalambayi.

Salford made it three games unbeaten under manager Karl Robinson with a 1-1 draw at Bradford.

The Ammies took the lead on 14 minutes with a well-struck finish from Ryan Watson. Junior Luamba accelerated through the Bradford defence and when his shot was parried by Sam Walker, Watson met the rebound first time from just outside the box.

But the home side needed only six minutes to level with another goal from a rebound. Alex Gilliead’s drive pinged against the inside of the post and defender Brad Halliday was following up to turn the loose ball into the empty net.

Salford’s 16-goal leading scorer Matt Smith headed wide from a good position as Robinson’s side looked to restore their lead.

On-loan Plymouth winger Tyreik Wright nearly had a goal to mark his return to Bradford but he dragged the shot wide after spinning onto Gilliead’s pass.

Substitute Harry Chapman was denied by Salford keeper Alex Cairns but Graham Alexander’s Bradford have now gone six games without a win.

Mansfield remain third in League Two after Will Swan’s late miss saw them held 1-1 at home by struggling Sutton in dreadful windy conditions.

Sutton should have gone ahead on four minutes when Ryan Jackson put over a superb cross from the right wing and Oliver Sanderson turned it wide of the near post with a first-time effort from 12 yards out.

But they did strike four minutes later thanks to a dreadful loose pass by Lewis Brunt across the edge of his own box – former Stags striker Lee Angol intercepted and crashed home a great finish past a helpless Christy Pym.

Mansfield built a head of steam and after Aaron Lewis saw a good shot deflect just wide, they were level on 35 minutes.

Substitute Stephen McLaughlin drilled in a firm low cross from the left which was turned home from five yards by George Maris at the near post.

Lucas Akins flicked a header over from close range on the restart and, as the home side toiled, Swan somehow headed wide from only three yards with four minutes left.

Newport manager Graham Coughlan praised his players for keeping their cool in a red-hot atmosphere as the Exiles warmed up for taking on Manchester United with a 1-0 victory over 10-man Wrexham.

A temporary stand has been erected at Rodney Parade to boost the capacity for the visit of Erik ten Hag’s men in the FA Cup next Sunday and it meant that 9,537 fans packed out the ground for the all-Welsh derby.

Wrexham defender Will Boyle was shown a straight red card for a studs-up challenge on Shane McLoughlin after just 18 minutes.

And Seb Palmer-Houlden headed in the only goal of the game after 34 minutes to earn the hosts all three points.

Coughlan felt his side used the support to their advantage and he insisted that they were on top before the red card.

“The atmosphere was noisy, and it was intense. It was really enjoyable for our players and fans, who have gone home happy,” said the Irishman.

“The atmosphere was always going to be a tester and we stood up to it and kept our discipline. The place was bouncing and I was really pleased the group kept their composure.

“Today was all about a derby game and about winning, no matter how you get over the line.

“We were really good in periods – more than a match for them and probably better than them.

“I just hope the sending-off doesn’t overshadow how good we were and how disciplined we were.”

Phil Parkinson claimed that the red card was the key moment of the match.

“Going down to 10 men after 18 minutes, it was difficult,” said the Wrexham manager. “We gave ourselves a mountain to climb and we couldn’t get any quality or rhythm in our play.

“It’s one of those challenges where he’s won the ball and caught the player on the follow-through.

“It’s a genuine tackle to win the ball and he’s caught him high. The linesman said the point of contact was dangerous and it’s a straight red.

“A lot was against us, in terms of the sending-off and losing four players to injury during the week. It’s a big disruption and the mountain was just too high for us to climb.

“Fair play to them, they used the conditions well and pressed right on to us. And we never really got a foothold in the game or implemented what we wanted to at half-time to get back into the game.

“It hurts when it’s a local derby and our fans have come down in their numbers and given us great support. But we’ve got nine days before our next game now and we’ll have to dust ourselves down and come back stronger.”

Forest Green caretaker manager Dan Connor says his players need to “love each other” after they started the post-Troy Deeney era with a 1-1 draw at Gillingham.

Callum Jones fired into the top corner to cancel out Oli Hawkins’ opener and lift Rovers off the bottom of the League Two table in Connor’s first game in charge.

Deeney was sacked as manager following an extraordinary attack on his own squad last weekend where he called them “babies” and said he’d rather watch the Antiques Roadshow than his team play after they lost to Harrogate.

He was given a four-match touchline ban and then dismissed on Thursday, less than a month into the role.

With another relegation fight on the cards, Connor has urged the squad to move on quickly and stick together as a team.

“We spoke before the game about heart and courage and making sure we left here with something,” he said.

“We got across to the boys that they need to love each other and they have to show the ability to show resilience when the chips are down.

“We knew it wasn’t going to be plain sailing today. It’s easy to crumble when you’re behind but there was a willingness from everybody here to will that ball into their net.”

Hawkins put Gillingham ahead in the 67th minute when he rose highest to head Connor Mahoney’s corner past Rovers goalkeeper Luke Daniels.

Jones fired home eight minutes later and Forest Green had the chance to win it late on when Fankaty Dabo – who Deeney labelled as “awful” last week – missed a golden opportunity.

“I had a couple of conversations with Fankaty, about whether or not he wanted to be involved this week given all that’s gone on,” Connor added.

“He said that he was and I trust him as a professional. He went out there and helped earn the point for the team.”

Gillingham were on a three-match winning run and another would have lifted them into sixth and the play-off places.

Manager Stephen Clemence claimed complacency had set in and his players expected to roll Forest Green over.

He said: “I’m very disappointed with the result. Unfortunately we didn’t reach the same levels we have in the last three games.

“I felt there was a little bit of edginess about us and we all have to look at ourselves – myself included – and reset for next week. I know we can do a lot better than that.

“We’re playing against the team at the bottom of the league but their players are fighting for their careers.

“These games are never easy – just because we’ve won three on the spin you can’t think you can turn up and roll teams over easily.”

Lee Bell believes Crewe could have beaten fellow promotion chasers Barrow by a wider margin after an impressive 3-1 win at Holker Street.

Bell admitted he would be “nit picking” to find fault in his side’s superb display as they closed to within four points of leaders Stockport.

Crewe’s fourth successive win took them above Barrow and included first senior goals in the second half for Lewis Billington and fellow teenager Matus Holicek.

Elliott Nevitt took his season’s tally to 11 by cancelling out Robbie Gotts’ ninth-minute opener but then squandered openings before the break to increase his total.

“It is a fantastic result against a good and well organised team,” said Bell. “We fully deserved the win and our plan worked a treat.

“We could have, probably should have, got a couple more goals but I am delighted for the players.

“Nev was tremendous. He was a goal threat and his link-up play was excellent.

“He played his role perfectly in terms of taking on the information and how we wanted him to play.

“But as I walked off with him, he was disappointed he didn’t get a couple more goals but I couldn’t fault his performance.”

Billington, fresh from a new contract extension, headed in Shilow Tracey’s cross to put Crewe in front.

And with virtually his first touch Holicek, back from a two-month injury lay-off, also headed in after Paul Farman saved Courtney Baker-Richardson’s effort.

“’Billo’ has taken to first team football really well,” said Bell. “We thought it was right to reward him with a new contract.

“Matus is someone we have missed. But he has got to score and create and make an impact when he comes on.

“Both have been at the club for a long time and had excellent coaching. It is a credit to everyone and I am sure they are proud to see these players in the first team.”

Barrow have developed an unwanted recent habit of failing to hold onto leads. And not even lower league goal kings Dom Telford and Cole Stockton could come off the bench to preserve the Holker Street record.

Telford and top scorer Ben Whitfield were denied by Crewe goalkeeper Tom Booth in a frantic late finale.

“We have hit the buffers a little bit,” said Wild after completing his two-game touchline ban.

“But we will come out the other side. Every team does.

“We started well and just needed to push on from the goal. I was pleased with how the first half went as a whole.

“But what we have got to do is tidy up those individual errors. Nobody is working hard for the goals at the moment.

“Our general play was good but individual errors are costing us.”