Consistency key in quest for success

ACCRINGTON Stanley manager John Coleman feels his side’s lack of consistency is the main factor that has prevented them from finding sustained success during the campaign.

The Reds currently find themselves in 16th position, after their upturn in form during February was followed by three games without a win, the most recent of those being a 0-0 draw at bottom side Bolton Wanderers on

Saturday.

Stanley are 14th points above the relegation zone but 18 points from the play-offs, planting them as a firm mid-table side this season, and Coleman is frustrated they haven’t been able to build any long-term momentum.

“We have been inconsistent this season, we win a few and then lose a couple. You do not set out to be inconsistent, you try to be the best you can but goals have a massive effect on games,” he told the club’s official website.

“You look at last Tuesday and Joe Pritchard has a great chance to put us ahead and then 15 seconds later they have scored. Instead of them having to score two goals to win, we suddenly have to.

“There is also a large element of luck to the game as well and I think people underestimate that. I do not like losing but the performances have been good.

“I don’t know how we didn’t get anything out of the game against Rotherham and we paid the price last Tuesday for defensive frailties and not being able to put the ball in the net.

“They are both good sides but we have got to do better in terms of taking our chances and defensively as well, especially as we have conceded eight goals in our last four games.

“We did have probably the youngest back five in League

One last Tuesday – with Joe Bursik in goal and then Callum Johnson, Aji Alese, Ross Sykes and Jerome Opoku.

“The average age would have been around 20 and they are good players who are still learning and will get better with every game they play.”

Up next for Accrington is a home game against

Tranmere Rovers on Saturday. Tranmere are in the relegation zone, having won just six of their 32 games so far this season.

One of their wins did come in their last match, as they earned a 3-2 victory at Shrewsbury Town to earn themselves three points for the first time since December 21.

Accrington and Tranmere couldn’t be separated when they met in the reverse fixture earlier this season, with the two teams playing out a 1-1 draw at Prenton Park back in December.

Sean McConville got the opener for Stanley after 18 minutes, before Kieron Morris equalised for Tranmere just before half-time.