Sullay Kaikai backed for the Premier League

Kaikai took his tally to 12 goals in 24 games with another special effort in Saturday's 3-2 win at Gillingham.

He provided the assists for the other two, as Micky Mellon's side ended their seven-match win-less run to climb to within three points of safety with three games left.

The 20-year-old on-loan Crystal Palace winger is yet to make his Premier League debut but Mangan, who scored Town's second goal at Priestfield, reckons Kaikai will be wowing the Eagles in the top flight next season.

Mangan said: "Kaikai just needs to be helped along a little bit, but this experience will do him good and he'll probably play in the Premier League next season.

"He scored a great goal and he did brilliantly to get in that position. Sullay was great – he scored one and assisted in the other two – but he can do that all day.

"The kid has fantastic ability and he has a great future in the game."

Town, who have their game in hand with the re-arranged derby at Walsall tomorrow night, are now four points above the drop zone.

But Blackpool and resurgent Doncaster can still overhaul them with wins from their last two matches. Mangan reckons the win at Gillingham was massive.

He said: "It felt amazing. We need one more win but that went a long way to help us get safe. It was a huge three points and the lads grafted all afternoon.

"To come through that showed great mental qualities and I was made up."

The forward ended a 10-match drought to score his 12th goal of the season and his fifth for Town and was delighted with his acrobatic strike.

He said: "Abu Ogogo put in a great header from a corner to put it back across. I sort of semi overhead side-foot kicked the ball and I was happy with it – it was a poacher's goal."

But Town, who led twice, had to work for their win and Mangan criticised Plymouth referee Lee Swabey after he awarded a string of free-kicks against them.

He said: "We were probably against 12 men If I'm honest because I didn't think the referee was excellent.

"I thought they got too many free-kicks which was frustrating because I think we hardly had any, so I don't know if the ref favoured the home side.

"For us to cope with that and get three goals away from home with the pressure we were under and, at this stage of the season, shows fantastic team spirit and togetherness."