Robinson’s cheery in spite of Acc revival

STEPHEN Robinson feels his side have turned a corner – despite conceding a two-goal lead to Accrington Stanley.

The Shrimps remain in the relegation zone but have just one defeat in their last five league games, leaving Robinson pleased with his side’s improvement.

He said: “I know you would say we were 2-0 up so we would be disappointed not to take three points, but we have come away and got a point and we haven’t done that too often this season.

“In games earlier in the season, we would have caved in and got beat but we looked stronger.”

It was an action-packed first half, with the relegation-threatened Shrimps racing into a twogoal lead inside 26 minutes.

In their first real attack after 14 minutes, Cole Stockton’s strike was saved by Toby Savin but only half cleared to the edge of the area, where Jonah Ayunga was waiting to score.

Despite Stanley pressure, Ayunga made it two after 26 minutes when Stockton passed to him on the right and he raced into the area and shot past Savin.

Stanley had a Ross Sykes effort cleared off the line and got one back after 35 minutes when Sean McConville’s corner was headed home by Colby Bishop for his 11th goal of the season.

They levelled in the fourth minute of added time at the end of the first half, when McConville’s free kick was headed home by Michael Nottingham.

It was end-to-end in the second half, with Stockton’s goalbound effort tipped away by Savin, while John O’Sullivan had a header cleared off the line for Stanley and Ayunga was inches away from a hat-trick in injury time.

Robinson added: “It was a poor game in appalling conditions. Neither side could pass the ball and the wind played a big part.

“In the circumstances, we will take a point.”

Stanley boss John Coleman was gutted as top scorer Bishop went off at half-time after getting a knock.

“I think if Colby had stayed on we would have won,” he said. “We brought on Jay Rich-Baghuelou and he worked hard, but he couldn’t have the impact Colby had.

“Overall, in the game we had 33 shots in total and 12 corners and we have got to do better.”