Graham Alexander hails Michael O’Connor’s impact as Salford see off Forest Green - 7M sport

Graham Alexander hails Michael O’Connor’s impact as Salford see off Forest Green



Posted Sunday, January 19, 2020 by PA

Graham Alexander hails Michael O’Connor’s impact as Salford see off Forest Green

Salford boss Graham Alexander lauded the impact of new signing Michael O’Connor as nine-man City knocked Forest Green out of the Sky Bet League Two play-off places with a 2-1 victory.

Signed during the week from Lincoln, O’Connor was on target with the winner as he nodded his 54th-minute header beyond goalkeeper Adam Smith.

“We needed Michael’s nous and he was excellent,” said Alexander.

“The result is the main thing today. The players showed character and commitment and dug deep, didn’t sulk and made it difficult for Forest Green.”

Alexander bemoaned the two second yellow cards for Richie Towell and Ashley Hunter as the visitors were left with nine men.

He said: “I didn’t see the handball, but for me the reason we got second yellow cards was due to no consistency.

“You can’t tell me their players didn’t do the same – all we want is consistency and there was so much going on on that pitch today.”

Earlier, Salford got off to a blistering start – Ibou Touray watched his free-kick float beyond Smith to open the scoring with just three minutes on the clock.

Josh March marked his home league debut with a goal just eight minutes later. Liam Kitching’s burst forward found Dom Bernard, and Junior Mondal flicked on for the alert March to stab home.

Rovers survived a heart-in-the-mouth moment on the half-hour as Farrend Rawson sent Smith short, allowing Ashley Hunter to nip in and fire his shot onto the foot of the post.

But having survived that close shave, they were then punished at the back when O’Connor rose the highest to nod home and regain the visitors’ lead.

Salford’s Towell was handed a second yellow after 74 minutes after handling a Bernard cross and boss Alexander was cautioned with nine minutes to go.

Forest Green substitute Aaron Collins hit the post with seven minutes remaining, while – deep into injury time – Hunter was booked again as Salford finished with nine men.

Forest Green boss Mark Cooper, who was celebrating his 200th-game in charge, was left to rue a raft of missed opportunities.

He said: “The ball came in our box twice during the game and we conceded two goals. We had 100 entries in their box and we only scored one.

“Aaron Collins has hit the post at the end, Shawn McCoulsky has missed from a yard out and we should win the game, but we’ve given them all the impetus by scoring from two set-pieces.

“We haven’t got enough quality in those wide areas, and at the minute every shot the opposition has, goes in the goal.

“The first one bounces four times and goes into the goal and the second one is a corner, loops up into the air, (there’s a) scramble and a goal.”

Prior to kick-off, a minute’s applause was held to mark the death of Forest Green Under-18s manager Chris Barker, who listed Barnsley, Cardiff and QPR among his former clubs.

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