Josh Andrews celebrated his first league goal for Accrington Stanley as they celebrated a 2-1 win over Salford City.

The Birmingham loan striker capitalised on a defensive error after Shaun Whalley had given Stanley the lead, both goals in the first half.

Salford were awarded a late penalty but John Coleman’s men have now only lost one of their five League Two games and currently occupy a place in the automatic promotion spots.

However there were worries as both Tommy Leigh and Jay Rich-Baghuelou were forced off.

Coleman made two changes with Seb Quirk suspended and Sean McConville out until around Christmas with an ankle injury with Jack Nolan and Kelvin Mellor coming into the starting XI.

Stanley forced most of the early pressure with the best chance, Alex Cairns turning a Whalley shot around the post on 20 minutes.

The Reds opened the scoring on 24 minutes when Rosaire Longelo won the ball on the left, passed to Leigh on the edge of the area and he laid it off to Whalley who drilled the ball into the far corner of the net. It was his second goal of the season.

Salford came more into it without testing Toby Savin while Stanley were always a threat on the break with Whalley driving another effort at Cairns.

It was two in first half added time when a poor back pass allowed striker Andrews to nip in, pounce on the loose ball and knock it past Cairns and into the empty net.

Salford almost got one back immediately but Callum Hendry’s close range shot was headed onto the crossbar by Mellor.

The Reds lost Leigh at half-time with Josh Woods coming on for the second half while Rich-Baghuelou came off on 53 minutes, replaced by Aaron Pickles.

City appealed for two penalties for handball in the early stages of the half but referee Charles Breakspear waved both away.

Stanley, though, continued to look a threat with a Whalley free kick finding Brad Hills on 54 minutes but his header crashed against the woodwork.

Jack Nolan fired narrowly wide as the Reds looked for a third and Cairns produced a superb save with his legs to keep out Andrews from close range.

Ryan Watson and Hendry both had strikes on goal around the 70^th minute but neither tested Savin.

Then City’s Watson rattled the post with a 76^th minute fierce strike as they forced the pressure.

QPR loan defender Joe Gubbins came on on 77 minutes for his Stanley debut and the Reds kept it tight until the 88th minute when Salford were awarded a spot kick after a Whalley challenge and Watson sent Savin the wrong way.

Stanley: Savin, Mellor, Rich-Baghuelou (Pickles), Hills, Longelo, Whalley, Coyle, Conneely, Nolan (Gubbins), Leigh (Woods), Andrews (Lowe)

Subs: McIntyre, Martin, O’Brien

Yellow: Rich-Baghuelou, Andrews, Whalley

Attendance: 2520 (511 from asfc)