Fleetwood boss Matt Lawlor praises Esapa Osong after win over Accrington

Fleetwood boss Matt Lawlor praised Esapa Osong after the substitute scored an added-time winner in their 2-1 victory over Accrington.

The Nottingham Forest loanee fired home a Ched Evans cross to give the bragging rights in the Lancashire derby to the Cod Army.

Fleetwood opened the scoring on 12 minutes when a cross from Ethan Ennis was headed home by Mark Helm.

Stanley substitute Josh Woods headed in a Shaun Whalley corner on 51 minutes before Osong’s late winner for the visitors – which was disputed by Stanley who felt there was a handball by Evans in the build-up.

Lawlor said: “Junior (Esapa) has to start grasping what he is. He has so many attributes in terms of his size, pace, ability and he can finish off both feet.

“He is a brilliant boy, his attitude is unbelievable and he has to take confidence from that.

“Scoring last minute in a derby, I don’t know if there is a better feeling for us in our Fleetwood bubble.

“Thankfully it went our way today. In the first half we were good. In the second half, I wasn’t pleased with how we performed but was pleased with how it ended.

“We weren’t at our brilliant best but got all three points whereas recently we have been good and got nothing. Football is a strange old game.”

On the winning goal, Lawlor said: “I couldn’t see it. They claimed handball. We don’t think it is, they think it is.

“I will have a look back but, to be honest, I am not bothered. I am just pleased it went our way and the desire and energy the lads showed particularly towards the end.”

Stanley manager John Doolan cut a frustrated figure, saying: “It was a blatant handball, the ball has been brought down by their player’s hand and then he squares it for the goal. Everyone has seen it. There is no excuse.

“I am frustrated, it should have been a draw.

“The first half was just all right, but we didn’t feel like it was a derby, we wanted our lads to be more passionate, show the fans what it means and we did.

“We made a change and then we were on the front foot in the second half and Josh Woods got the equaliser from a good set-piece which we have worked at.

“We got the response in the second half and we are back in the game and asked a few questions. It was going to be 1-1 and we shake hands but we have lost the game because of a decision that was blatantly handball.”