Michael Carrick has saluted his injury-hit squad for delivering Middlesbrough’s biggest home win of the season against an out-of-sorts Preston.The Lilywhites, who started the evening sixth, had no answer to Boro’s first half display that earned them a three-goal advantage at the break.Preston struggled to make an impact in the final third and were cut open too easily by a home side, ...Full Story »

Charlton head coach Michael Appleton praised the ice-cool finishing of Alfie May as his took his season’s goal tally to 17 with a double to down his former club Cheltenham at The Valley.May was signed in the summer from the Robins to score goals. That is exactly what he is doing – and at a prolific rate.The Charlton striker’s brace against his old employer means that he now has...Full Story »

Swindon boss Michael Flynn said his side showed the best and the worst of themselves as they almost threw away a 4-0 lead at Accrington.The Robins were four goals ahead but three added-time efforts from Stanley left Swindon holding on for a 4-3 win.Swindon took the lead in the 17th minute through Dan Kemp’s penalty and League Two’s top scorer Jake Young fired home his seventh goal in...Full Story »

Michael Skubala spoke highly of Lincoln’s performance following their 3-0 League One win at Cambridge.Skubala’s side are unbeaten in three matches following an impressive success at the Abbey Stadium on Tuesday night.Daniel Mandroiu’s penalty and Dylan Duffy’s effort had the Imps in control at the break before Jack Vale completed the scoring late on.Meanwhile Cambridge ha...Full Story »

Lincoln manager Michael Skubala praised the mentality of his side after TJ Eyoma struck late to earn the Imps a point against Barnsley.Barry Cotter and John McAtee both scored in the second half to cancel out Danny Mandroiu’s penalty early on, but Eyoma struck in the 88th minute – his first goal of the season – when a corner caused mayhem in the Barnsley area.It ensured Skubala...Full Story »

Michael Flynn said everyone at Swindon needed the lift provided by their 2-1 win over Mansfield.Jake Young’s dramatic brace at the County Ground ended Mansfield’s unbeaten start to the season.Swindon had previously gone six games without a win in the league and eight in all competitions, including a 7-4 FA Cup shock against non-league Aldershot.Boss Flynn said: “Today was good ...Full Story »

Ethan Hamilton scored an 89th-minute goal to earn Lincoln their first win under new boss Michael Skubala.Hamilton collected a pass from Lasse Sorensen and wrong-footed Orient keeper Sol Brynn to clinch the points in this rearranged fixture that proved a drab affair.Hakeeb Adelakun should have scored five minutes earlier when he broke free down the right but with only the keeper to beat, he screw...Full Story »

Michael O’Neill called Northern Ireland’s 2-0 win over Denmark a step in the right direction but knows his side remain a long way from the finished article.In their final Group H fixture of a miserable campaign, O’Neill’s side finally beat someone other than minnows San Marino as second-half goals from Isaac Price and Dion Charles earned Northern Ireland their first compe...Full Story »

Michael O’Neill could point to individual and collective mistakes after Northern Ireland lost 4-0 to Finland in their penultimate Euro 2024 qualifier but the inexperience of his young squad played a major role in Helsinki.Northern Ireland played well for much of the first half but fell behind to Joel Pohjanpalo’s penalty just before the break, and Daniel Hakans then doubled the lead ...Full Story »

Swindon manager Michael Flynn once again tore into his players after they twice threw away the lead to lose 4-2 at home to table-topping Stockport.Odin Bailey scored his first league goal as Stockport clocked their 13th win in a row.A clearly angry Flynn, whose side conceded seven at home to non-league Aldershot in the FA Cup last weekend, said: “It was just too easy for them to score agai...Full Story »

Proud Middlesbrough boss Michael Carrick hailed his players for executing their game plan to perfection in a “big win” over Championship leaders Leicester.Boro usually play possession football but had to change their approach for the visit of the Foxes, who dominated the ball at the Riverside but failed to find a breakthrough against Carrick’s stubborn and organised side.And af...Full Story »

Swansea manager Michael Duff praised the spirit of his players after they hung on for a 0-0 draw with 10 men against Sunderland.A 30th-minute red card for midfielder Charlie Patino forced the Swans to launch a grim defensive operation.And despite a second-half Sunderland onslaught, the hosts kept the ball out of their net to earn a gritty point.It might even have been more had striker Jamal Lowe...Full Story »

Charlton boss Michael Appleton admitted the 3-2 victory at Wigan – his side’s first away win of the Sky Bet League One season – was ‘job done’.All the damage was done in the first half at the DW Stadium, with two goals from Alfie May and one from Corey Blackett-Taylor.After substitute Tyreece Campbell came within a lick of paint of making it four shortly after the r...Full Story »

Middlesbrough boss Michael Carrick praised his side as they overcame spirited Exeter to win a cracking Carabao Cup fourth round clash at St James Park 3-2.League One Exeter took a shock lead with a stunning Ryan Trevitt strike but two goals in quick succession from Morgan Rogers and Sammy Silvera turned the tie on its head at the start of the second half.Trevitt levelled things up with another b...Full Story »

Michael Smith scored twice against his former club to give Sheffield Wednesday a 2-0 victory over South Yorkshire rivals Rotherham United – their first win of the season.In a derby encounter dominated by the home side, both goals came during the first 45 minutes. Rotherham never threatened to mount a comeback, only carving out a couple of decent chances.It was new manager Danny Rohl’...Full Story »

Michael Duff hailed Swansea’s “well earned” 1-0 win at Blackburn that gave them a first victory at Ewood Park in 52 years.The Swans, who came into the game having suffered back-to-back defeats, ended their hoodoo through Liam Cullen’s fine 28th-minute curling strike, capping an outstanding month for the forward who won his first Welsh cap earlier in October.Swansea had to...Full Story »

Morecambe boss Derek Adams praised Michael Mellon after the young striker’s second-half hat-trick fired the Shrimps to a 4-1 win over AFC Wimbledon.The on loan Burnley forward, and son of Oldham boss Micky Mellon, picked up his first English Football League hat-trick with a clinical performance in front of goal to down the Dons.Adams said: “Michael is prolific and really can score go...Full Story »

Michael Mellon’s second-half hat-trick helped Morecambe to a 4-1 win against AFC Wimbledon.The on-loan Burnley striker, son of Oldham boss Micky Mellon, was clinical in front of goal as the Shrimps moved into the play-off spots in League One.His first came 28 seconds into the second-half when – after being played in by Jordan Slew – he showed a calm head to round Alex Bass and ...Full Story »

Michael Flynn said Swindon need to stop giving points away if they are to sustain a promotion challenge.Connor Mahoney’s first-half goal earned Gillingham a 1-0 victory as the Kent side leapfrogged their rivals into the League Two play-off places.Flynn said: “We have to stop throwing points away.“We have absolutely dominated the game, but we gave away a poor goal. We know that ...Full Story »

Former Lincoln boss Michael Appleton conceded his Charlton side were second best as his return to Sincil Bank ended with his first defeat in eight games in charge of the Addicks, as the Imps won 3-1.And it was a player who was effectively snubbed by Appleton during his Imps tenure who did most to spoil his night, Hakeeb Adelakun scoring twice with Sean Roughan also on target as City fought back ...Full Story »