‘We have got a massive game and that will set us up for another massive four games’
RYAN DOBNEY
MARK Hughes was at the double to score his first goals of the season, as Accrington Stanley overcame a two goal deficit to win 3-2 against Crewe Alexandra on Saturday.
The result means the Reds unbeaten run now stretches to 13, with the side’s last defeat coming at the start of February.
It would seem consistency is primary for Coleman, as in the build-up to the game he chose to start with the same team that had fought and beaten Plymouth a week before.
Remarkably, following the February 11 defeat to Portsmouth, Stanley languished just three points from relegation, 13 games later and the club harbour faint promotion aspirations as Coleman’s side are just four points from a possible play-off position.
Speaking after the game on the play-off push, he said: “We know we have got to win every game we play, there was a couple of big results that went our way today.
“Who knows, we are climbing the table and getting more points.
“We are just going to keep our heads down, we have got a massive game next week and then that will set us up for another massive four games.”
But Coleman must have been thinking the worst from the start, as it was the visitors who were the better side for much of the opening half.
The Railmen’s continuing offensive on Marek Rodak’s goal was eventually rewarded after 15 minutes when Callum Cooke’s fearsome shot from distance, found the bottom left hand corner of the goal.
The Middlesbrough loa- chance coming from Shay McCarten but his curling whistled just wide of the post.
As the teams came out for the second half, cue the reaction.
Noor Husin was substituted with Coleman putting on Janoi Donacien which moved Matty Pearson into midfield, and this gave the Accrington the legs in the midfield battle.
The home side’s tempo had improved from the first-half, the wind was in the Accrington sails and following a fantastic save from McCartan, Ben Garrett could do nothing to stop Mark Hughes prodding home from the resulting corner at close range.
Moments later the Reds on 61 minutes were level and it was McCartan who had threatened the Crewe defence all game, who grabbed it.
The Northern Irishman made little mistake inside what has become known as ‘McCartan’ territory amongst fans and the striker entered double