STANLEY CAN GET BETTER AFTER FIVE-STAR SHOW SAYS COLEMAN

ACCRINGTON smashed five past York City but manager John Coleman insists his side were far from their best.

Billy Kee grabbed a double as Stanley left Bootham Crescent with a resounding victory, while there were also goals for Matty Pearson, Josh Windass and Shay McCartan.

Bradley Fewster pulled one back for the hosts but they were well and truly beaten as manager Jackie McNamara’s difficult start to life in charge continues.

“It wasn’t a comprehensive performance, but we were comfortably the better team,” said Coleman. “We did get sloppy at times and we’ve played miles better than that this season.

“We won’t rest on our laurels, there were big areas we can improve on, but there were periods when our football was breathtaking and we just need to build on that.

“It’s always difficult to win

away from home wherever you go, and three points in League Two are like gold dust but we have congratulated the boys but I don’t think that performance is anywhere near as good as we can play.”

Stanley striker Kee somehow missed an open goal after eight minutes but inform Accrington took the lead soon after when Pearson’s long-range effort took a deflection to beat Scott Flinders. Kee redeemed himself after 32 minutes when he slid in from close range to convert Sean McConville’s flashed cross across goal to double the visitors’ lead.

After 44 minutes York loanees Danny Galbraith and Kenny McEvoy linked up well before finding Michael Coulson but he fired over the bar.

On the hour mark Windass was brought down in the area by a clumsy Stefan O’Connor challenge, and he stepped up to slot his penalty home before celebrating in front of home support and earning himself a booking.

Kee tapped home his second on 72 minutes shortly before Coulson slotted through debutant Fewster to slot home a consolation goal and substitute McCartan rounded off a comprehensive drubbing late on. “I’m disappointed with a lot of things,” said McNamara. “We looked a threat early on but it was a big ask of the back four to click this early.

“The signs are there, especially going forward but we just need to build on that.

“All the goals were preventable, and I thought the fourth one in particular was a free kick, everybody could see but the referee didn’t give it. There’s a lot of things lacking both defensively and going forward, and whether you’re young, old or experienced there a lot of things we need to improve on.”