Anxious Stanley

SKY BET LEAGUE TWO

Goals from Billy Kee and Matty Pearson had twice but the Reds in front, but Hartlepool hit back thanks to Padraig Amond and Scott Harrison to ensure they left the Wham Stadium with a point.

Reds boss John Coleman was frustrated not to pick up the win, and believes his side need to fix their problems in front of their own supporters.

“We’ve got to stop this anxiousness at home. It’s as if we’re scared to win at home and don’t think we can do it, we’ve got to get that away from us,” he told the club’s official website.

“We scored after knock- ing on the door for an hour and thought that was the job done, but then a lack of concentration meant it was 1-1.

“We got ourselves back in front, but then we invite them in again. The referee invents a foul and awards them a free-kick, and then the ball is in our box and it’s a goal, so that’s disappointing.”

It was Accrington who had the first chance of the match when Shay McCartan fired an effort at goal on nine minutes, but goalkeeper Adam Bartlett got down well to deny him.

Scott Brown then had a shot blocked, before Harrison sent a volley inches off-target for Hartlepool on 24 minutes.

The visitors threatened again when Michael Woods tried his luck, but his shot flew over the crossbar.

Bartlett had played well for Hartlepool in the opening stages, but he was nearly caught out when Brown attempted a long range shot midway through the half, but the goalkeeper managed to save at the second attempt.

Accrington took control of the game for the remainder of the half, and were also able to dictate play after the interval.

Their hard work was rewarded when they made the breakthrough from the penalty spot on 57 minutes.

Liam Donnelly fouled Pearson in the box, allowing Kee to step up and convert the spot kick to make it 1-0 to the hosts.

Stanley weren’t ahead for long though, as Hartlepool levelled things up just three minutes later when Amond headed home against his former club.

Coleman’s men went back on the attack as they tried to restore their lead, with Sean McConville sending an attempt just a few inches over the crossbar.

They eventually got a well-deserved second goal when McConville turned provider, crossing for Pearson who powered a header into the back of the net to make it 2-1.

The hosts made a couple of changes as they tried to have fresh legs protect the lead, bringing on Jordan Clark and Hull loanee Jonathan Edwards for his debut.

Clark almost made an immediate impact, forcing a good save out of Bar-