Rochdale Gillingham

Acc Stanley 0 Blackpool 0

JOHN COLEMAN believes Accrington are promotion contenders after sharing the points with Blackpool.

Jerry Yates hit the post in the first half while, at the other end, Blackpool keeper Chris Maxwell denied Dion Charles after the break.

“I told my players at half-time that they look promotion candidates and they have got to act like it,” said Stanley

Plymouth 1 MK Dons 0

RYAN LOWE insists Plymouth can have a good Christmas now after ending their losing run.

Ryan Hardie ensured Argyle bounced back from six consecutive defeats.

Pilgrims boss Lowe said: “We set the game plan out for the boys and they nailed it to a T. It’s a win and a clean sheet and we can enjoy Christmas now!”

MK Dons boss Russell Martin said: “The goal we conceded is poor, so the result today is really frustrating. It’s a tough place to come against a team that was wounded.”

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STEVE EVANS hailed Gillingham’s thumping win as one of their best performances of his time in charge.

John Akinde (below) scored twice and Rob McKenzie and Connor Ogilvie were also on target, with Eoghan O’Connell grabbing a consolation for Rochdale.

“It was one of the best performances from the team since I took charge here,” said Evans.

“We put our boss Coleman (below). “That’s not being cocky but having an air of confidence about them, and to believe they are going to win.

“I think Blackpool will be there or thereabouts come the end of the season and there is no reason why we cannot be too.”

Blackpool boss Neil Critchley was happy with a point, saying: “It wasn’t a game for the purists but both teams were committed.”

faith in younger players and asked them to go out and express themselves and I thought we did that all over the pitch.

“The quality and the passing and the movement were terrific and this is a good Rochdale side.

“Teams beat them and they beat teams – but no one does that to them.”

Dale boss Brian BarryMurphy said: “We just didn’t perform and physically we just didn’t match the intensity of the opponent, and that’s always a disappointment for us.”