Crewe Alexandra 1 Doncaster Rovers 2: Flynn is delighted as Paynter puts Rovers on cusp of promotion

“That’s a pivotal win – we can’t expect others to do us favours,” said Flynn, with his side two points clear of Bournemouth, but aware that the teams in the play-off positions all have games in hand.

“We’ve got to think they’re going to win all their games and we’ve got to do the same.

“It’s a crazy and silly game because our play was littered with mistakes, certainly in the second half, but a lot of hard work and a lot of desire to improve the situation paid off for us.

“The squad as a whole believe they can win when they go behind and we’ve shown that again.”

Substitute striker Billy Paynter’s double turned the game for Rovers after they trailed at Crewe.

James Coppinger and Iain Hume had caused the hosts problems, but the first half was goalless as Rovers had two strikes chalked out for offside and Neil Sullivan had denied Mellor after he had ben sent through by Aneke.

The home side went ahead as Chuks Aneke picked out Johnstone’s Paint Trophy final hero Max Clayton, who finished perfectly across Sullivan into the far corner in the 54th minute.

Crewe goalkeeper Alan Martin had been in top form but could do nothing when Paynter, on for Hume, picked up possession on halfway, glided forward unchallenged before curling home a superb effort into the bottom corner in the 66th minute.

Paynter then rifled home the winner four minutes later from Jamie McCombe’s flick-on.

Turton hit wide from six yards out, but Rovers held on for a crucial win.

Crewe Alexandra: Martin, Ellis, Ray, Davis, Mellor, West (Turton 67), Aneke (Ellington 78), Inman (Colclough 75), Tootle, M Clayton, Moore. Unused substitutes: Garratt, Leitch-Smith, Waters, Stewart.

Doncaster Rovers: Sullivan, Husband, McCombe, Rob Jones, Spurr, Coppinger, Lundstram, Furman, Cotterill, Hume (Paynter 60), Brown. Unused substitutes: Maxted, Wakefield, Harper, Howieson, Bennett, Ball.

Referee: S Attwell (Warwickshire).

Man of the match: Billy Paynter.