Mansfield boss Nigel Clough told his players to forget Saturday’s 4-1 home mauling by promotion rivals Crawley and quickly move on.

Stags’ heaviest defeat of the Sky Bet League Two campaign saw them drop out of the top three.

However,  a fourth successive win on the road for Crawley strengthened their hopes of making the play-offs.

“Everything that could go wrong did go wrong on the pitch today in terms of our performance,” said Clough.

“Defensively we are going to be a bit vulnerable with so many defenders out injured.

“But we looked more like a team fighting relegation rather than one chasing promotion, which was the most worrying part.

“But it’s finished now. As bad as it’s been, it’s gone once that final whistle blows and there is nothing you can do about it.

“All we can do is look towards the last five games and concentrate on them. We have to win on Tuesday to stay in the race – end of story.

“We’ve taken one point out of nine. When you’re chasing at the top of the league you can’t afford to do that at this stage of the season.

“But it’s still in our hands, which is the only positive thing.”

Crawley made the perfect start as Kellan Gordon fired in a low shot against his old club after just four minutes.

On 24 minutes Nicholas Tsaroulla bagged the second after a great run by Ronan Darcy.

The game was over when the visitors netted twice in as many minutes after the break.

In the 55th minute bad defending allowed Danilo Orsi to steer in the third and, soon after, Klaidi Lolos raced down the centre to add the fourth.

Sub Hiram Boateng did grab a late consolation 10 minutes from time but Crawley boss Scott Lindsey said: “That was a big result for us today.

“I thought we scored some really good goals and I’m clearly delighted.

“I can’t ask for too much more with a result like this at Mansfield, who are a really good side

“That’s the quietest I’ve ever known Mansfield fans.They are usually really noisy, and I could hear our fans over them pretty much from the start of the game, right to the end.

“I know we were 2-0 up but I wasn’t happy with our first half performance. I made that really clear to them.

“I felt we turned the ball over a lot and we’re not usually like that. We are usually more secure with the ball.

“Second half I thought we were outstanding and managed things much better.

“The players have been outstanding and they were outstanding again today with the effort they put in.

“Confidence is really high. If anything I’ve got to cool them off a little bit. We can’t wait to get to Wrexham on Tuesday now.”

Phil Parkinson praised the character of his Wrexham side after they came from behind to claim a 2-1 League Two comeback win at relegation-threatened Colchester.

Goals from Paul Mullin and Max Cleworth secured the promotion-chasing Reds victory, after John Akinde had fired the hosts ahead following half-time.

Wrexham boss Parkinson said: “It’s all about character today.

“We’ve gone a goal down and we’ve responded brilliantly.

“Colchester drew at Mansfield, they drew last week (at Tranmere) and beat Newport here – their results are a lot better than their league position suggests.

“Once again, we’ve had to dig deep and show that Wrexham resilience, which we’re renowned for.

“Barney (Ryan Barnett) has produced a bit of magic with a fantastic pinpoint cross for Mulls (Paul Mullin).

“A 100th goal for him is a great achievement and I’m so pleased for Max (Cleworth).

“I’ve just said to the lads in there, at this stage of the season it’s about producing moments of inspiration and somebody stepping up to the plate and Max has done that today and there were 2,000 Wrexham fans singing his name.

“That’s what it’s all about – it’s about ‘can I be the man that produces that moment’ and Max did that.”

Colchester impressed in a goalless first half, with Akinde and Connor Hall both going close.

They then took a 54th-minute lead through Akinde, who clinically fired a low shot past Arthur Okonkwo from just inside the area after Cameron McGeehan had done well to set him up.

But their lead lasted just eight minutes as Mullin headed home Ryan Barnett’s cross unmarked from close range to equalise for his 100th goal for Wrexham.

And Cleworth then nodded in Wrexham’s 85th-minute winner – after Colchester had failed to deal with George Evans’ throw into their box – to seal the visitors’ comeback victory.

Colchester boss Danny Cowley said: “Playing football for 60 minutes is not enough.

“If you want to win, you have to play for 90 minutes or however long they want to add on these days.

“We were 1-0 up in front of a full house and the atmosphere was bouncing and you just need to step up and keep playing.

“We didn’t do that and do you know what – at half-time, they were fighting between themselves in our tunnel, because we stood up to them.

“We really competed with them and they had no answer and they’re a good team with really good players.

“But they win two ways – they win through bullying you or they win through individual brilliance.

“They didn’t play well but it’s the sign of a good team when they didn’t play well but they win.

“We needed leadership and personality and we didn’t show enough of it and I’m really angry this evening.”

David Artell reserved praise for Danny Rose after his opportunistic winner helped Grimsby to an important 1-0 victory against Newport County which boosted their ongoing Sky Bet League Two survival bid.

Rose did the damage at Blundell Park with his 13th goal of the season as Grimsby moved five points clear of the danger zone.

Artell’s side have games in hand on Sutton and Forest Green below them, while Newport suffered defeat for the fourth match running.

The Mariners boss said: “The players were brilliant. My only criticism is that it was only 1-0.

“It could have been three, four or five and that would’ve made for a much calmer last 20 minutes, but I don’t think they’ve had a chance [in the second half].

“It was a fully deserved victory and that’s three 1-0 wins here in the last five. If we keep going as we are, we will score more goals and win more matches.”

On Rose’s goal he added: “That’s a goal out of nothing. Justin [Obikwu] scored a similar one at Sutton when nobody expects a shot and then, suddenly, it’s in the back of the net.

“Rosey [Danny Rose] epitomises this team really with his attitude. He closes things down. He ran himself into the ground and that’s all we ask, that they run themselves into the ground for the football club.”

Newport manager Graham Coughlan said: “We weren’t good enough. We made a mistake at the back and they’ve got in.

“We’re leaving things and we’re hesitant. They were sharper. They got in and put the ball in the back of the net.

“They looked hungry and have a cause. Their cause is probably greater than ours.

“Fair play to them, but that’s where we are at this moment in time.

“Unfortunately, we weren’t good enough, to be honest.

“We were lucky it was only one and it’s not a nice place to be at this moment, but like I said we’ve got four games left to see what the future holds for some players.”

Grimsby settled quickest as Charles Vernam and Kieran Green set their sights from the edge of the penalty area in the opening stages.

At the other end, Offrande Zanzala headed a decent chance wide after meeting a left-footed delivery from team-mate Adam Lewis.

Rose then prodded Grimsby ahead in the 33rd minute after combining with Vernam and the home side took that lead into half-time.

Vernam sliced a half-volley over soon after the restart as Grimsby pushed for a second goal.

Donovan Wilson came closest to grabbing it, but the Grimsby striker was, somehow, denied three times in quick succession by Newport goalkeeper Nick Townsend.

Stockport boss Dave Challinor hailed hat-trick hero Paddy Madden after his side remained top of League Two with a 3-1 win at Sutton.

Madden, who also bagged a treble in the 8-0 demolition in the reverse fixture, nabbed his third hat-trick of the season as he took his tally to 18 in all competitions for the league leaders.

And Challinor said: “It’s the time of the year where you need experienced players to step up. He’s certainly done that in the last few weeks.

“To come here and get us three goals to win us the game is fantastic.

“They are three different goals. First one was a poacher’s goal, you’d love to get 20 of them a season. The second goal is a good goal on a difficult pitch and the third goal’s a fantastic finish.

“Hopefully he’s still got some left in him. He’s taken us closer, almost touching distance, but we aren’t quite there yet and we kept working.”

The high-flying Hatters are four points clear at the summit and Challinor added: “It was a very professional performance away from home.

“We wanted to take the wind and make use of that in the first half, which we did. We were pretty flawless in the way we played apart from a mistake to give a penalty away.

“We had more control in the second half with the wind in our faces.

“If I was asked whether I’d want the wind with us or against us, I’d always say with. But it was some wind out there. Any balls over the top would have to be some ball to stay on the pitch.

“We got two goals from well-worked set-pieces. The third goal was probably the only time where we had a spell of keeping the ball. The finish is a brilliant finish.”

Sutton remained a point clear of the trapdoor back to non-league and boss Steve Morison said: “We didn’t do our jobs properly at the start of the game.

“Credit to them, they are top of the league for a reason. They scored three excellent goals from Paddy Madden and showed why they are top of the league.

“It was terrible to concede so early. It’s not how you want to start a game of football. It was a disappointing afternoon.

“The third goal was one hell of a finish, it wasn’t a good afternoon for us.

“We hoped for a better performance in the second half and didn’t get it. It’s a frustrating afternoon.

“It’s disappointing because we could be three points further way from relegation. The positive is nothing’s changed in the league table.

“We need to stand up and be counted and try a hell of a lot of harder.

“Charlie Lakin came off injured. It was a big blow losing our best player at half-time. We won’t know anything until Monday or Tuesday, it’s only just happened but fingers crossed.”

Lee Bell admitted his Crewe side went “back to basics” to secure a goalless draw at Accrington as they look to cement a play-off place.

The Alex manager has 10 first-team players missing through injury and results have slipped.

However, the point at Stanley means they remain in sixth place, five points clear of eighth-placed AFC Wimbledon.

This was not a classic match at the Wham Stadium with neither keeper having a lot to do.

Both sides had just two shots on target and it will not live long in the memory – but it could prove a vital point for Bell.

He said: “We needed a response and we got it.

“I thought the players gave it everything, they emptied themselves. We went back to basics, kept our shape and made sure we were not cut open.

“We got in some good positions but the final ball let us down.

“A clean sheet away from home is a foundation to build on and that hasn’t been our forte this season but that’s two on the bounce now.

“We have got to remain positive, we are a no-excuses team and the players who are playing have been around the first team.

“We just have to keep going, roll our sleeves up and hopefully we will have one or two back to freshen us up over the next week.”

Stanley made sure they will play League Two football next season after a turbulent time at the Wham Stadium, with the sacking of long-term manager John Coleman in March, and new boss John Doolan is looking ahead as he assesses his players.

The Reds kept their first clean sheet in 10 games and Doolan was happy with the way his backline stood firm.

Doolan said: “I am so pleased with the way the lads defended, as a back five, their decision-making was really good.

“We are two sides who like to get the ball down and pass it but the wind was swirling and it made it difficult for both sides. The wind has a massive impact on the game.

“I thought we asked a few questions ourselves and we had some good performances, Tommy Leigh worked his socks off as our target man.

“We had to dig in, everyone put a shift in, and I’m really pleased defensively.

“We haven’t as yet won at home since I took charge but if we show the same desire, spirit and togetherness to defend and keep a clean sheet, hopefully we can do it in our final home game.

“We have four away games on the spin now, it’s a testing time but it gives me time to try a few things and give lads a chance.”

MK Dons’ automatic promotion hopes were handed a boost as goals in each half from Max Dean and Alex Gilbey sealed a 2-0 Sky Bet League Two win at bottom club Forest Green.

Struggling Rovers pressed the self-destruct button five minutes before the break. Dominic Thompson inexplicably surrendered the ball to Dean, who finished well beyond Vicente Reyes.

A scuffle ensued as both teams entered the tunnel at the break but it was the promotion-chasing Dons who came out punching a minute after the restart and Norwich loanee Reyes kept out a Gilbey strike from the edge of the box.

Gilbey grabbed the visitors’ second in the 50th minute. Leeds loanee Lewis Bate cut Rovers open for Kyran Lofthouse to pick out Gilbey, who made no mistake.

The victory sees Mike Williamson’s side climb into the automatic promotion places with three games to go.

Rovers remain rooted to the foot of the table, three points adrift of third from bottom Sutton with four games to play.

Omar Bugiel’s header gave AFC Wimbledon a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Salford that kept their League Two play-off hopes flickering.

It was the Dons’ first win in five games as they moved up to eighth in the table, still three points behind in-form Crawley, as the Ammies, who finished with nine players, fell to a third straight defeat.

The best chance of a scrappy first half went to Salford when Matty Lund burst through before his effort was well saved by Wimbledon goalkeeper Alex Bass.

His opposite number, Alex Cairns, made his first important stop when he beat away Bugiel’s 25-yard shot in the first minute of the second half.

The Ammies then had the best chance yet in the 62nd minute when Lund dispossessed Ryan Johnson before teeing up Conor McAleny, who was denied by Bass.

Instead, it was the Dons who broke through after 70 minutes when Bugiel’s header from Kofi Balmer’s long throw drifted in before Salford had both Elliot Watt and Theo Vassell sent off for dissent deep into stoppage time.

Paul Mullin scored his 100th Wrexham goal as they came from behind to claim a 2-1 League Two victory at relegation-threatened Colchester.

The hosts created chances in the first half, with Connor Hall lifting a first-time shot over and John Akinde heading over from close range.

Alistair Smith fired over in the area for Colchester and Cameron McGeehan’s low strike from the edge of the box was well held by goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo.

Wrexham’s best chance of the first half came just before half-time when Mullin slid a shot wide from close range, after a good break.

However, Colchester took a 54th-minute lead through Akinde, who clinically fired a low shot past Okonkwo from just inside the area after McGeehan had done well to set him up.

But their lead lasted just eight minutes as Mullin headed home Ryan Barnett’s cross unmarked from close range to equalise.

And Max Cleworth then nodded in Wrexham’s 85th-minute winner after Colchester had failed to deal with George Evans’ delivery into their area, to seal the visitors’ comeback win.

Grimsby strengthened their Sky Bet League Two survival bid with an important 1-0 victory over Newport at Blundell Park.

Danny Rose netted the winner shortly after the half-hour mark as the Mariners moved five points above the relegation zone, consigning Newport to a fourth successive defeat in the process.

Grimsby settled quickest as Charles Vernam and Kieran Green set their sights from the edge of the penalty area in the opening stages.

At the other end, Offrande Zanzala headed a decent chance wide after meeting a left-footed delivery from team-mate Adam Lewis.

Rose made the decisive breakthrough in the 33rd minute after combining with Vernam, who sent a half-volley over soon after the restart as Grimsby pushed for an all-important second goal in their ongoing battle against relegation.

Donovan Wilson came closest to grabbing it but the striker was, somehow, denied three times in quick succession by Newport goalkeeper Nick Townsend.

Classy Crawley coasted to a powerful statement 4-1 victory at promotion rivals Mansfield.

That made it four away wins in a row with 13 goals scored and knocked Nigel Clough’s Stags out of the top-three places amid their heaviest defeat of the Sky Bet League Two campaign.

Crawley began on the front foot with a strong wind at their backs and were rewarded with the opening goal after just four minutes.

Mansfield struggled to clear a Nicholas Tsaroulla cross and the ball finally ran to former Stags defender Kellan Gordon, whose low finish found its way across Christy Pym and just inside the far post.

Davis Keillor-Dunn blazed a chance over for the home side following an error from Dion Conroy.

However, Crawley were 2-0 up in the 24th minute when a great run down the middle by Ronan Darcy ended with Tsaroulla cutting inside onto his pass and lifting a great finish over goalkeeper Pym from 15 yards.

Any home hopes of a fightback were wrecked by two Crawley goals in as many minutes.

Poor defending allowed Danilo Orsi to control and tuck away a six-yard finish from a low Tsaroulla cross in the 55th minute and a minute later the pace of Klaidi Lolos saw him race down the centre to net low from 16 yards.

Mansfield bagged an 80th-minute consolation goal when Hiram Boateng tucked away a George Williams cross from eight yards.

Doncaster sealed a sixth successive victory and hurt Morecambe’s League Two play-off chances with a 3-0 win at the Mazuma Stadium.

Two goals from Luke Molyneux and a late strike from Tommy Rowe gave the visitors the points with another fine performance.

Rovers took the lead with a superb counter-attack in the 12th minute.

Goalkeeper Timothee Lo-Tutala found Hakeeb Adelakun with a quick long throw and the winger’s superb deep cross was met by Molyneux who slid the ball under Archie Mair after a great first touch.

The visitors doubled their advantage 11 minutes later from a free-kick.

Molyneux was again the scorer as he took advantage of a woeful Morecambe wall to fire the ball into the bottom right hand corner of Mair’s goal from 25 yards.

Morecambe looked to hit back towards the end of the half with Ged Garner inches away from sliding home a Jordan Slew cross.

The home side enjoyed more possession in the second half but only forced Lo-Tutala into one save from Joe Adams after 89 minutes.

With the Shrimps pushing bodies forward, Doncaster added a third when Rowe scored from close range unmarked after Max Biamou’s lay off.

Paddy Madden scored a hat-trick against Sutton for the second time this season as Stockport tightened their grip at the top of League Two with a 3-1 win.

It took the lead leaders just two minutes to go in front as Madden touched in from close range after Neill Byrne’s header hit the bar.

Sutton came close to an equaliser when Charlie Lakin’s free-kick was well saved by Ben Hinchliffe but after just failing to connect with an Odin Bailey cross, Madden doubled his tally on the half hour as he swept home Kyle Knoyle’s low cross after a quickly taken free-kick.

Sutton replied within four minutes as Josh Coley was brought down by Ibou Touray, who was booked, and Lakin smashed home the penalty.

But in first-half stoppage time, after Steve Arnold had saved well from Callum Camps, Madden – who scored a treble in County’s 8-0 win over the same opposition in December – completed another hat-trick with a fine shot in to the far top corner after Knoyle had played the ball into his path.

Sutton, who lost Lakin to injury at half-time, struggled to make an impact on the visitors in the second half.

Arnold made a fine stop to prevent Antoni Sarcevic extending Stockport’s lead as Dave Challinor’s side saw the game out comfortably to hold a four-point lead at the top of the table with games in hand on their nearest challengers.

Notts County won at Meadow Lane for the first time in 2024 as they comfortably beat Harrogate 3-0.

Macaulay Langstaff put County ahead from the spot and, after George Thomson saw a penalty saved by Luca Ashby-Hammond, Jodi Jones and Jim O’Brien struck.

The hosts started brightly as Aaron Nemane danced his way into the area, linking up with Dan Crowley and poking the ball home, only to see his effort ruled out for offside.

County took the lead just before the break as Nemane was tripped inside the area, with Langstaff stepping up and sending James Belshaw the wrong way for his 26th goal of the season.

Thomson had the chance to level the game as Aden Baldwin’s high boot on Abraham Odoh was penalised, however his spot-kick was brilliantly saved by Ashby-Hammond.

Odoh and Dean Cornelius spurned good chances for the visitors, and they were punished as a result with substitute Jones’ weaving run ending with a low shot finding the far corner.

The three points were confirmed a minute before the final whistle, with replacement O’Brien stooping low to glance the ball home.

Walsall remain in the hunt for a League Two play off place following a 3-1 comeback win against Tranmere at Prenton Park.

Regan Hendry opened the scoring for the home side in the 24th minute when he calmly placed a left-footed effort past Jackson Smith in the Walsall goal.

Hendry had earlier missed a glorious chance to open the scoring but fired his shot wide with only Smith to beat.

At the other end, Isaac Hutchinson and Emmanuel Adegboyega had both been denied by Luke McGee in the Rovers’ goal before Jamille Matt equalised on the stroke of half-time.

The visitors started the second period on the front foot and went close through Ryan Stirk and Josh Gordon.

But it was a Taylor Allen free-kick that deceived the entire Tranmere defence to put the Saddlers ahead after 57 minutes.

And the points were secured 10 minutes later when Brandon Comley found the bottom corner with a perfectly placed right-footed effort.

Crewe remain in sixth place but they extended their winless run to five games with a goalless draw at Accrington.

Both sides came into the game out of sorts but the Railwaymen needed the points more as they look to ensure a play-off place.

There were limited chances in the first half with Crewe testing Radek Vitek twice through Zac Williams and Rio Adebisi, although it was routine for the Manchester United loan keeper.

Stanley did not have a shot on target, Tommy Leigh volleying wide with their best opportunity.

Crewe came out after the break on the attack, firing a number of dangerous crosses and corners into the Stanley area but were unable to find the breakthrough.

Stanley struggled to create clear-cut chances, Josh Woods firing over their best second-half chance, but they last kept a clean sheet nine games ago so that, along with ensuring their League Two safety, was something to celebrate after a turbulent season at the Wham Stadium.