LEAGUE TWO
STOCKPORT 5 MK DONS 0 ALEX GILBEY expects to hear some home truths after the Dons suffered a five-goal caning.
Stockport cut leaders Mansfeld’s advantage to two points after a five-star show dented Dons’ hopes of automatic promotion.
Gilbey admitted: “We must take it on the chin and when we’re back in training on Monday there will be a few harsh words said.
“We’ve all got to look at ourselves and be better.”
County boss Dave Challinor said: “We were brilliant.”
CREWE 1 WIMBLEDON 1
LEWIS LEIGH is confident Crewe’s loss of form won’t derail their promotion hopes.
It’s one win in five after Alex were held by playoff-chasing Wimbledon but Leigh reckons they can bridge the five-point gap on Wrexham in third.
After making his first start on loan from Preston the 20-year-old midfielder said: “We can still push for automatic promotion, we just need to get back to winning games regularly.”
NOTTS COUNTY 1 SALFORD 2
ADRIAN MARIAPPA is eyeing Salford’s best run for six months.
Conor McAleny’s double (scoring and celebrating below) all-but guaranteed League Two survival for Karl Robinson’s men, and Mariappa wants to see a third straight win for the first time since early October when they host Sutton on Good Friday.
The veteran defender said: “Back-to-back wins hasn’t happened too often this season so it gives us a bit of belief going into the next game.”
HARROGATE 3 BRADFORD 0
SIMON WEAVER was happy to finally provide a few home comforts for Harrogate fans.
Town snapped an eightgame winless run to rekindle their play-off hopes in front of a record Yorkshire derby crowd of almost 4,000.
Boss Weaver said: “We’ve done great away from home and we felt we needed to have a convincing display in front of our own fans so it was good to do it before a record attendance.”
DONCASTER 2 FOREST GREEN 0
JAMES MAXWELL bemoaned Doncaster’s ‘what if’ season.
Rovers banished any lingering relegation worries with a third straight win to send Forest Green bottom.
Doncaster had two points from the first seven games to leave them playing catch-up and Scottish defender Maxwell said: “Even with a point-pergame at the start of the season then we’d be bang right in there but that’s gone. There are eight games left and let’s see where that takes us.”
SUTTON 3 ACCRINGTON 1
BRAD HILLS hopes he’s caught David Wagner’s eye despite Accrington’s troubles this season.
The young defender has impressed on loan, and is keen to push his first team claims with Norwich boss Wagner next season.
Hills couldn’t prevent Stanley from sliding to a defeat which boosted Sutton’s hopes of beating the drop, but said: “It’s looking good for next season and I’ll be fighting for a centre-back spot.”
BARROW 1 NEWPORT 0
GRAHAM COUGHLAN gave his flops both barrels after Dom Telford came back to haunt Newport.
Ex-County favourite Telford set up the winner for Cole Stockton after 20 minutes as Barrow kept up the pressure on the top three.
Newport’s play-off hopes were dented by a display which left Coughlan fuming and the Exiles’ boss admitted: “There was a lack of hunger and desire and we didn’t win enough battles. Too many players had off days.”
MORECAMBE 2 GILLINGHAM 3
CHARLIE BROWN says Morecambe need to find a killer instinct to rekindle their play-off hopes.
The Gills twice came from behind to seal a win to leave them out of the top seven only on goal difference.
Morecambe are five points further back after a fourth straight defeat and Brown admitted: “We’re in disbelief after that result. We’re playing some good football but we need to be better at killing teams off.”
TRANMERE 1 CRAWLEY 3
CHRIS MERRIE admitted Tranmere paid the price for a slow start.
Rovers’ slim play-off hopes took a big hit as their four-game unbeaten run was halted by a nightmare first 10 minutes that left Nigel Adkins’ men two goals down.
It’s just one defeat in nine for Crawley who climbed up to seventh in the table and midfielder Merrie said: “It was an uphill battle after conceding two early goals and to ship three at home wasn’t good enough.”