Fleetwood scored three goals in nine minutes as Accrington Stanley lost their fifth successive League One game.

The teams couldn’t be separated in the first half as Stanley had chances but couldn’t find their way past one of the best defensive records in the league.

Luton loanee Carlos Mendes Gomes then took charge after the break as Fleetwood chalked up only their second win at Highbury of the League One campaign.

Liam Coyle and Doug Tharme were suspended with Seamus Conneely returning after a ban and Baba Fernandes slotting in the defence.

It was a lively start with Fleetwood on the front foot but Ethan Hamilton came close on six minutes with a long range effort which was narrowly wide.

A minute later, Callum Morton broke clean through with keeper Toby Savin denying him and, from the follow-up, Mendes Gomes blazed over the bar.

It was end-to-end but then the Reds enjoyed a spell of pressure.

Tommy Leigh’s looping header went onto the roof of the net, Leigh’s cross was across the face of goal and just needed a touch while Ryan Astley had two chances – one denied by keeper Joe Lynch and the other over the top.

Joe Pritchard was inches away from giving Shaun Whalley a tap in while, at the other end, Morton fired low which Savin collected while Dan Batty’s scuffed effort was off-target.

Stanley started the second half strongly but then came the crazy nine minutes.

The Reds were unable to clear their lines on the edge of the area on 50 minutes and Morton fed Mendes Gomes who lashed home his fourth goal of the campaign.

Stanley could have equalised immediately but no one could get on the end of Leigh’s ball across the face of goal.

It was two on 54 minutes when Mendes Gomes made space in the area, chipped the ball to the far post and Shaun Rooney raced in to fire past Savin.

A minute later Lynch kept out Leigh’s downward header and then Morton rifled the ball over at the other end as Fleetwood looked for a third.

By 59 minutes it was 3-0 when a Mendes Gomes corner was headed home off the post by Josh Earl.

It could have been four but Danny Andrew’s cross into the six yard box was scrambled clear.

John Coleman put on youth team product Leslie Adekoya up front on 70 minutes for his debut and he almost scored on 85 minutes.

Leigh fed the teenager in the area and Lynch pulled off a superb diving save to turn the shot onto the underside of the crossbar as Stanley couldn't find a way through.

Stanley: Savin, Clark, Astley, Fernandes (Longelo), Rodgers, Conneely, Whalley (Adekoya), Hamilton, Pritchard, McConville, Leigh

Subs: Jensen, Nolan, Delfouneso, Martin, Procter

Yellow: Whalley

Attendance: 3,115