Reaction round-up from across League One's second weekend

It features the return of fans at two games, accusations of dirty tactics and a team winning despite having ten players out injured.

Wigan Athletic 2, Gillingham 3

Former Oxford United winger Jordan Graham wants more after scoring twice for Gillingham.

The 25-year-old had netted just four times in 64 appearances before last week, but has now got three in his last two games.

“It’s a feeling I was excited to have,” he said. “We’re starting to show signs that we can play.

“It’s good for me, I want to keep adding goals to my game – I don’t score enough.”

• Jordan Graham's only goal in his two loan spells at Oxford United came against Blackpool in February 2019   Picture: Richard Parkes

New Wigan boss John Sheridan bemoaned the way his side allowed Gillingham to score.

He said: “I have seen good signs again, I thought we actually played all right in the game.

“But the bad signs are the manner of the goals we’ve conceded – very, very, very poor."

Peterborough United 2, Fleetwood Town 1

Joey Barton argued Peterborough's Nathan Thompson should have been sent off after Fleetwood Town conceded twice in stoppage time.

He said: “It was a good football game first-half. Then you have (Peterborough defender) Frankie Kent elbow Sam Stubbs right across the face. (The referee) He gives him a yellow.

Also read: Karl Robinson holds back on public criticism of Oxford United to limit damage

“Then Thompson’s had two elbows on Ched (Evans). The first one you could possibly say is due to the challenge. The second one, there’s no doubt about it, he’s absolutely just aimed to elbow him in the head."

Peterborough manager Darren Ferguson, who said he would need to look at some of the contested challenges again, said: “We have not had that feeling for a while, coming back from 1-0 down and winning it.

“It was fantastic from my players, who just kept going."

Shrewsbury Town 1, Northampton Town 2

Keith Curle hailed his patched-up side for sticking together to win amid an injury crisis.

He said: “It would have been very easy – I think we’ve got 10 players unavailable either through injury or illness – where it’s one of those where a lot of people can have excuses already lined up.

“I outlined to the players that I don’t buy into excuses because we’re trying to create a competitive environment."

Also read: Oxford United need to avoid blame game, says Simon Eastwood

Shrewsbury manager Sam Ricketts, frustrated by the early blow of losing defender Ethan Ebanks-Landell to injury, said: “It’s hugely frustrating at losing the game.

“I think when you go in there and you look we’ve had 70 per cent of possession and 19 shots."

MK Dons 1, Lincoln City 2

The Imps warmed up for their Carabao Cup clash with Liverpool this week with another encouraging display.

Head coach Michael Appleton said: "We set up really well and punished them on the counter-attack on numerous occasions.

"We’re only two league games into the season and we’ll get sharper – if we do it’ll put us in really good shape.”

• Lincoln City boss Michael Appleton   Picture: James Williamson

Russell Martin felt his Dons team did not handle their setbacks in the game well.

“Once we conceded the first there was too much anxiety, not enough confidence and belief, too many mistakes and too much disappointment when we lost the ball," he said.

Blackpool 2, Swindon Town 0

Blackpool head coach Neil Critchley was delighted to be able to share his first competitive win in charge of the Seasiders with the club’s supporters.

Bloomfield Road was one of seven venues in the EFL used as a pilot scheme with 1,000 fans.

Critchley said: "It was a great feeling to have them back.

“When you look around and you see faces, you realise that people just want to come and support their team and they want to come and have their release on a Saturday afternoon.

• Some of the Blackpool fans allowed in against Swindon   Picture: Tim Markland/PA Wire

“I think it was really important for them to be here today and share that performance with us and the three points.

“I have to say it was quite emotional, to be honest."

Richie Wellens was critical of the Robins' judgement once they got into promising attacking areas.

The Town boss said: "They gave the ball away three times when we outnumbered them and we don’t even get a shot on goal, so our decision-making was very poor in the final third."

Charlton Athletic 1, Doncaster Rovers 3

The Addicks will continue to struggle until they are allowed to strengthen the squad, manager Lee Bowyer believes.

The Addicks are under a transfer embargo while their ownership status continues to be argued in the courts.

Bowyer said: "I say the same thing every week, I’m repeating myself each time. There isn’t enough competition in this group of players for them to know that if they don’t play well, they’re not going to play next week.

“We need to get some bodies in and I don’t know how easy it’s going to be but that’s what needs to happen. We can’t sign anyone at the moment."

Rovers boss Darren Moore said: "We knew we had to fight for the ball, win the little battles and take our chances because Charlton are a team who can score goals, but this was a really good, well-rounded performance from us."

AFC Wimbledon 4, Plymouth Argyle 4

Dons' goalscoring form has is a source of optimism for boss Glynn Hodges, even if they remain a work in progress generally.

He said: "Two league games, six goals.

"The way we played in the first half and to come from behind and score three goals and get 4-2 up, and then go backwards again, shows we’ve not quite got that belief or composure to get the job done."

Argyle scored twice in the last 15 minutes to claim a point, which lifted manager Ryan Lowe.

He said: "How can you not be pleased with four cracking goals? To come back and get a point is pleasing.

"I’m obviously disappointed with the goals but it’s a learning curve, we’re new to the league, you make mistakes and you get punished."

Bristol Rovers 0, Ipswich Town 2

It took two goals in the final ten minutes to break the deadlock at the Memorial Stadium, but Ipswich boss Paul Lambert felt it was the right result on the balance of play.

He said: “The substitutes made an impact. That is important because there is a long season ahead and we are going to need every member of the squad to be ready to contribute.

“I’m really happy with how things are going. We were fully deserving of the result today because we created a lot of good opportunities in the second half.”

Rovers chief Ben Garner was irritated lapses at the back proved so costly.

He said: "The first came from a lack of communication at the back, but also we could have done more to prevent the cross coming in.

“Another defensive error led to the second and we have to work on those fine margins that make all the difference."

Hull City 1, Crewe Alexandra 0

Tigers manager Grant McCann praised his side’s strength of character after Hull claimed a narrow victory.

He said: "It was a bit of a scrappy game, if I’m honest. We were not as good as we have been but we dug deep after the game (against Leeds) in midweek.

“We were playing against a very good team. I’ve got to give credit to Crewe as they play in a way that’ll cause teams problems."

Alex boss David Artell reckoned the result was rough on his side.

He said: "It was an unjustified result. Our performances are getting better as the season goes on.

“We certainly didn’t deserved to lose the game. If anything, in the first half, we were by far the better team and created the better chances.

“In the second half there was nothing much in it and I didn’t see a goal coming from either team."

Burton Albion 2, Accrington Stanley 1

Burton boss Jake Buxton hailed John Brayford’s desire and leadership qualities after watching his skipper head home a late winner against Accrington.

He said: "The second goal is all about desire to get your head on the ball and Bray has glanced it in.

“Bray is a massive leader on the pitch. He gives everything out there and is part of a great senior group here.”

Stanley manager John Coleman, whose side entertain Oxford United this weekend, said: "It’s a great goal to win it from them to be fair but the game could have gone either way and we just didn’t take our chances and that is the harsh reality of football at this level.

“As hard as we worked and as much as we were organised Burton didn’t pose us too many threats. It’s just disappointing that sometimes it becomes like the flip of a coin and today we came down on the wrong side of it."

Rochdale 0, Portsmouth 0

Pompey boss Kenny Jackett was frustrated his side could not take their chances, in what was a second successive goalless draw to start the campaign.

He said: "I did feel there was a goal or goals there for us today and unfortunately we couldn’t get any.

“We did have good control. I was pleased with the chances we created but unfortunately we couldn’t get over the line with the win we wanted.”

Dale manager Brian Barry-Murphy was delighted with the result.

“I’m excited for the players that we got a result in the end because I thought that we deserved it," he said. "No one gave us a chance against Portsmouth.”