Hughes: Pools finding belief

Middlesbrough boss Tony Mowbray blamed his side's slack defending for the 2-1 home defeat to Millwall.

The Teessiders slipped out of the play-off places after George Friend headed into his own net and Martyn Woolford converted a simple chance.

Boro staged a fightback after the restart and Curtis Main pulled one back before having a second goal ruled out for offside in stoppage time.

"They were poor, poor goals for us to concede from a defensive point of view," Mowbray said. "We made it very difficult for ourselves.

"We gave Millwall something to hold onto and then we had to try and break them down and we couldn't do that. We had chances to get back into it but we didn't take them.

"We didn't get the luck but we can't keep saying that. It is down to us to win football matches.

"Of course we are very disappointed and of course it has an effect on confidence. And of course it is very frustrating for the supporters here who have seen these results over the past few weeks.

"But do we still believe we can make the play-offs? Of course we do. We know we have what it takes and that we just need to stay strong as a group and keep doing the things we did that won us 11 home games and got us in the top six in the first place."

Cody McDonald headed the only goal of the game as the League Two leaders set a new club record of 11 away wins this season.

Cook said: "We huffed and puffed and we did okay and certainly in the second half I thought we could have gone on and win the game but unfortunately for us it just didn't happen.

"I can't fault the effort or application and we created two or three chances but it's obvious that we are not scoring enough goals. I thought we did our best and we knew it was going to be difficult because of the way Gillingham set up but we lacked a bit of quality.

"While it's physically possible we will move heaven and earth to do our best but it looks to be too much of an ask at the minute but as a manager you have to keep believing."

Cody McDonald's second half header was enough to secure the points against Chesterfield and keep Gillingham at the top of League Two.

"It's a fantastic performance all-round from the squad," Allen said. "The great thing is there are so many players who can go in and play.

"We defend as a team and we attack as a team. We played one or two touch football, moved the ball about and though it was a bit scary in the last 20 minutes, we've seen it a million times. When we defend in numbers we are strong and we are not left open.

"It's a victory for the club and it's an historical day to be honest for the club, the players, supporters, chairman and to be manager and get this record makes me very proud.

"Breaking a record of 100 years is fantastic. Deon Burton came in at the end and said 'well done lads, we've made history' and that's all we spoke about. To be the squad and part of the club when we made history is quite amazing."

Alex earned their second win at the Ricoh Arena this month as substitute Max Clayton scored with his first touch.

Leon Clarke had earlier given Coventry a 12th-minute lead that lasted just four minutes thanks to a Mark Ellis volley.

Davis said: "It was a bit scrappy in parts but we came here with a plan again and I thought we wanted to go as long as we could, keeping them out.

"Obviously the early goal was a set back but I always felt we could score from something.

"The game was fairly even. It was a bit of a battle and scrap and that's maybe the result of playing each other four times.

"I think that makes a difference. You know each other player-wise and although we tried to change the shape it is still difficult because our paths have crossed three times already so it was difficult."

Crewe keeper Steve Phillips was man-of-the-match on his last visit to the Ricoh Arena and enjoyed himself again.

"He made two or three important saves, as we expect him to do because that's what he is there for," added Davis.

While the message to Clayton was clear. Davis said: "I told him to go out there and score the winning goal. It's nice when you have a talented 18-year-old to bring on and get you a goal."

Magnus Okuonghae cancelled out Max Power's early opener but then it was all Rovers, with Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro, Ash Taylor and Cole Stockton scoring before Michael O'Halloran netted from the spot.

The U's are three points adrift of safety in the relegation zone following their heaviest home defeat of the season.

Dunne said: "It was very disappointing for us but we have to respond.

"The goals we gave away were very poor and we were second best all over the pitch. We didn't deserve to get anything out of the game.

"Tranmere's first goal was a cracking goal but our equaliser got us back in the game.

"I thought we were okay at that point but a poor defensive mix-up cost us, because it was a basic error.

"The timing of the goal really hurt us and put us in a difficult situation.

"It was a collapse in the second half and I've told my players what I think of it.

"We can't make the mistakes we made defensively and not expect to get punished.

"We have a young changing room in there and there are a few of us who have lost 5-1 in there before but we have to respond - we can't get downhearted."

James Dunne's scorching volley put Boro in front but former Wales international Paul Parry had the hosts level by the break before Marvin Morgan, on as a late substitute, converted a cross from Jon Taylor to seal victory for the Shrews five minutes from time.

A brilliant stoppage-time save from goalkeeper Chris Weale denied Stevenage skipper Mark Roberts an equaliser.

Boro have now lost four successive games and Smith, disappointed that two strong penalty claims were rejected in the second half, said: "To take the lead again and to lose the game was heartbreaking to say the least.

"I thought we controlled the opening 15 minutes and on possession and territorial advantage we maybe deserved to get a goal and it was a great strike again from James. It was a really positive start to a tough away game.

"I was very disappointed with the equaliser. Shrewsbury had had few moments around our penalty area and the first real chance they've scored. Parry hits a good strike but it should never get to that point.

"We were quite happy moving into the second period and it again showed that we're capable and there's still plenty to play for.

"Really and truly we should have been given the opportunity to go in front but the referee was a big factor in that because it's his decision and choice whether or not the two calls are right. Only on replays will I be able to tell you that."

Smith, admitting his side's run of defeats was a concern, added: "We have to somehow find a result that tips the scales the other way. We've got enough quality in the side to be turning results around in a far better fashion. There's no doubts about it."

Rovers ended a run of four straight defeats to move up to third in League One.

Magnus Okuonghae cancelled out Max Power's early opener but then it was all Rovers, with Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro, Ash Taylor and Cole Stockton scoring before Michael O'Halloran netted from the spot.

Moore said: "Winning is a habit and so is losing. We'd lost a few games but this league is very tight and it's very pleasing to get the win.

"I don't think I've ever lost four games in a row like that since I've been a manager but we hit the self destruct button with two of those defeats after getting players sent off.

"But we knew that with our budget we would have a blip sooner or later and you have pressure at the top and the bottom.

"We've been disappointed with the results before today but the spirit is good and we saw that today.

"I thought our second goal was a turning point in the game and it came at a good time.

"Colchester were the home side but when we went in at half-time 2-1 ahead, we felt that there would be more goals in the game for us."

The three points saw the Shrews widen the gap between themselves and the League One relegation zone to eight points, with other results involving teams below them also going their way.

James Dunne's scorching volley put Stevenage in front but former Wales international Paul Parry had Shrewsbury level by the break before Marvin Morgan, on as a late substitute, converted a cross from Jon Taylor to seal victory for Turner's side five minutes from time.

Shrewsbury's triumph, the first time they have won successive games this season, was confirmed by a brilliant stoppage-time save from goalkeeper Chris Weale to deny Mark Roberts an equaliser.

"It's a bit brighter looking at the table but it was hard work," said Turner. "We lived dangerously late on and there was one fantastic save from Chris Weale which earned us the three points.

"The victory lifts the pressure enormously from us and I think we can go into Tuesday's game against Doncaster, who are a good side and right up there, thinking that we can get another good result.

"You would expect one or two results elsewhere to go against us and Oldham won, but Tranmere winning at Colchester has done us a favour and there were one or two others. Hartlepool's result at Scunthorpe was a great one for us so it's just opened up a little bit of a gap now and given us a little bit of breathing space."

The in-form Brewers raced into a 4-0 lead before goals from Guillem Bauza and Scot Bennett launched a belated fightback.

Tisdale said: "Burton deserved to win, simple as that. We did our best, but it wasn't good enough because on the day they were better than we were.

"I'm not too unhappy with my players because sometimes you have to accept there are days when the opposition are better than you.

"We didn't read the game quite as well as we should have done and I've highlighted a couple of areas where we need to improve, but I'm not going to criticise players who haven't let me down at all this season.

"Burton executed their performance better than we did, but I also don't think we were that bad that we deserved to concede four goals."

The Brewers survived a late fightback by away-day experts Exeter to record a 4-2 win that lifted them into third place in the League Two table.

But it was not all praise for Gary Rowett's men as assistant boss Kevin Summerfield accused them of a "lacksadaisical" approach.

The Burton number two said: "I think there was a danger we might get carried away after the 4-0 win at Fleetwood.

"I think it showed because we were a little bit lacksadaisical and, despite being three up at half-time, Gary and I weren't that happy.

"We did manage to raise the tempo a little bit in the second half, but over the 90 minutes I don't think we were as good as we have been over the last three or four weeks."

Laws gave a debut up front to new loan signing James Alabi from Stoke. Nine minutes after coming on as a substitute he made a real impact, heading Scunthorpe back into the game from a left-wing cross from Tom Newey.

But it was too little, too late to save the Iron after first-half goals from James Poole and Jonathan Franks.

"Yes, we really wanted to keep the momentum going that we had been building at home," said Laws. "This result is a setback for us but it just shows how difficult it is to win games in this division. Everyone is battling for points whether they are near the top of the table or the bottom. It is going to be a real fight now right until the end of the season.

"The most disappointing thing for me from this result is that we did not win enough individual battles out there on the pitch.

"The turning point was the first goal, a poor one for us to give away. We panicked a little bit after that and did not do enough to turn things round.

"I have to confess that some of our play was poor, we lacked quality to get behind them. We had given them something to hang on to and credit to them, they made it difficult for us to get back."

Laws added: "James Alabi only arrived here on Thursday and I did not really want to use him at all, but we were flat and needed a lift - and he certainly gave us one with the goal he got.

"But that was about the first time we had got a good quality ball into their box."

Mark Beck was the hero for the Cumbrians, scoring within five minutes of coming off the bench to cancel out Adam Chicksen's first-half opener.

Robinson, whose side are now winless in six, said: "We just aren't getting the rub of the green.

"I thought we were sensational in the first half and we should have been out of sight. But when we play well we just aren't putting teams to the sword.

"We deserved more out of the game. We played a bit into their hands in the second half and made it more difficult for us.

"But not one player shirked responsibility and it's disappointing to only get one point because it's not dropping for us.

"We need to keep working hard and not get too despondent. We have to keep being positive and be realistic about where we are."

The Saddlers were second best for much of the match but defended impressively to deny the play-off chasing Bees.

Smith said: "This is a great point for us and I think a fair result. We played a lot of the second half in the Brentford half and even hit the post for them.

"The boys have done really well against a very good team because it was always going to be tough coming to a place like this with their home record. It's results like this that make us realise we need fear nowhere."

His striker Fabian Brandy was a constant threat for the visitors, who defended resolutely and withstood a late barrage from the increasingly desperate Bees.

Smith added: "We've got a very young back four but I wouldn't hesitate to put them in to any kind of situation. Today they showed that they can cope with the high quality players that Brentford threw on."

Pools stretched their unbeaten run to six games with a 2-1 victory at fellow strugglers Scunthorpe, never looking back after two first-half goals in 17 minutes from James Poole and Jonathan Franks put them in command.

"We are now beginning to play some of the football we know we have been capable of," said Hughes. "And I think there is still more to come from us if we can continue to play with this sort of energy.

"It's all about having the right mindset.

"We are not going to get carried away with what we have achieved in the last few games, we are going to keep our feet firmly on the ground.

"Our approach has got to be to try and keep this unbeaten run going now for as long as we can.

"Our supporters are magnificent and you can see that they are starting to believe now. They have got some pride back in the club - and that is all down to the players, they have been magnificent."

Hughes was delighted with the start his side made.

"We played some really good football in the first half and scored two good goals. We could also have had others, but we knew in the second half we would have to be resolute because Scunthorpe would come back at us.

"We didn't reach that same level in the second half and that is something we have to learn from. But overall there are nothing but positives for us to take from this game."