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Agard praises boss for relighting fire
Aneke Agard
KIERAN AGARD made it four goals in four games then credited Dons boss Paul Tisdale for turning him back into a scoring machine.
Agard bettered last season’s eight-goal tally against Macc and puts his fizz down to Tis.
Record buy Agard and striking sidekick Chuks Aneke are benefitting from a fresh voice as the League Two leaders bid to bounce back up after relegation.
Aneke grabbed his 10th goal to equal his total for last season, scoring the first against the bottom club.
Agard said: “The manager’s played a massive part and there’s hard work as well. It is paying off with all the strikers and with the whole team pulling their weight.
“During the week I’ve been working on trying to get in on the shoulder a bit more and it paid off.”
Agard’s goal was his final touch of the afternoon as Tisdale displayed his ruthless side by subbing the forward. Aneke followed him not long afterwards.
“I wasn’t aware I was about to be subbed,” added Agard. “The goal was good timing.
I’m thankful I’m scoring a lot more this season and playing consistently.”
Dons were in the doldrums last season and goals dried up for Agard too.
Tisdale (right) has used his experience from his Exeter days to give everything a good shake-up.
He was preparing to replace Agard seconds before he beat the offside trap, ran on to Alex Gilbey’s through-ball, and beat Kieran O’Hara, admitting: “I don’t make my decisions based on goals but on the flow of the game, tactics, fatigue.”
Dons were competent while managerless Macclesfield gave it a decent go without really suggesting they could record their first away win of the season. Agard and Aneke made sure of that. MOTM ALEX GILBY (MK DONS) REF: ATT: MANSFIELD PORT VALE
PORT VALE midfielder Luke Hannant backed his side to bounce back from this poor defeat.
Vale were second best throughout with CJ Hamilton netting Mansfield’s winner.
Hannant said: “There’s a good group of lads here with some experienced heads, so they will help get around the younger players and help get our heads back up.
“We have a strong enough mentality and character within the team to put it right next weekend.”
Vale had Manny Oyeleke sent off for two yellow cards. FOREST GREEN midfielder Paul Digby is ready for a week of shooting practice.
Rovers blew chance after chance with boss Mark Cooper claiming striker Christian Doidge, on loan at Championship Bolton, would have scored “a minimum of five.”
But the only goal came for Morecambe’s Aaron Wildig four minutes from time.
Digby said: “It feels horrible. We need to be a bit cleverer in the final third.
“We lacked that final detail to put the ball in the net. I’m sure we will work on it in training.”
CREWE TRANMERE 1 0
3 2 TRANMERE midfielder Luke McCullough has called for his side to toughen up on the road.
In the league Rovers have conceded just three times at home but 16 on their travels.
McCullough said: “Our clean sheet record at home is very good.
“At home we seem to be a lot more solid for whatever reason, we need to look at doing that away from home and keep more clean sheets away.”
Two from Callum Ainley and another goal from Charlie Kirk gave Crewe victory, with James Norwood and Ollie Banks replying.
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