Reds on the rise
STANLEY manager John Coleman insists his team are focusing solely on themselves as they try and stage a late play-off charge.
Just a couple of months ago, it looked like the Reds would be involved in a relegation battle, but a brilliant run of form has seen them shoot up the table.
Stanley now find themselves just two points outside the play-off places following a 1-0 victory over Crawley on Easter Monday.
As many as 10 teams are still in contention to finishing in the play-offs, but Coleman is adamant that his team are only concentrating on their own matches.
“We’re two points off of the top seven but we’ve got to get past four teams, so we have got to just take care of our own business and let everybody else worry about themselves,” he told the club’s official website.
“All we can do is try and get as many points as we can. I’d like to go the rest of the season unbeaten and we don’t want to sizzle out. There are nine points left to play for.
“We finished in the play-offs last season and it seems that 81 points will get you promoted this year, and it could even be as few as 77, so it’s frustrating that we were in the wrong place at the wrong time last year.”
Accrington’s 1-0 win over Crawley came after a goal from Shay McCartan at the start of the second half.
Coleman was glad to get the win, but felt that his team have to perform a lot better in the future.
“We were nervy and didn’t play well. It was a great move for the goal but we looked edgy and the lads need to show more urgency,” he said.
“We stepped it up in the second half and got the goal but we sat on it and instead should threaten more and move the ball around their box.
“I thought we defended quite well to be fair, but we can play better than that and have done in some games where we’ve not won.
“It’s two clean sheets back to back though which is always a bonus, and now we have a massive game against Newport next.”
Accrington head into that game against Newport at Rodney Parade knowing that their oppo- nents are fighting for their lives at the moment, as they currently occupy one of the relegation spots.
Newport are second bottom, one point from safety, with just three matches remaining this season.
Stanley are hoping for revenge, as Newport picked up a 3-1 win when the teams met in the reverse fixture at the Wham Stadium in October.
‘All we can do is try and get as many points as we can’