Kyle Wootton in defence proves Stockport have strength in depth – Dave Challinor

Stockport manager Dave Challinor felt makeshift centre-back Kyle Wootton proved his side had strength in depth as they claimed a 2-0 League One victory over struggling Wimbledon.

Second-half goals from Josh Stokes and Tayo Edun kept the Edgeley Park outfit in the play-offs as the south Londoners remained just three points off the relegation zone.

Striker Wootton played in defence due to injury problems and Challinor was glad to call on his stop-gap.

He said: “We’ve probably extended him by five years haven’t we? He can stop people at the other end.

“Do we want that to be the case? Absolutely not, but at the moment we have more fit forward players than defenders.

“We’ve got to look at what the dynamic looks like, we don’t really have the full-backs who can do the job at centre-back.

“It was a professional job tonight. I know where we’re at in terms of injuries and the team we had to put out.

“In those types of games you get moments and we get two moments that have got us a valuable three points. I can’t ask for much more than that.”

Wimbledon have not scored since March 21, although they came close when James Tilley forced Corey Addai to turn his shot to safety after 33 minutes following a well-worked short corner routine with Jake Reeves.

Stockport took a 58th-minute lead, when substitute Stokes was left unmarked to head home an Ollie Norwood free-kick.

The three points looked set to return to the north west after 72 minutes when Edun turned in the area and curled the ball past outstretched Dons goalkeeper Nathan Bishop.

It remains a tough time for the Plough Lane outfit, who have slumped in form with injuries, but manager Johnnie Jackson remained resolute.

He said: “Two moments of quality by them has decided the game. They’re a good team, that was probably the difference in the end.

“They could go to their bench and make changes that can impact the game and they have the luxury of leaving a few out.

“I didn’t believe we were under the cosh, particularly in the first half. But for the first goal, they had that unbelievable cross into the box.

“We’ve probably got seven starters out. It’s a three-game season now, with our destiny in our hands.

“It’s going to be about recovery, getting the bodies back and getting the strongest team out.

“We’ve got to find a result, but we’ve got three games.”