Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
George Hodgson

Accrington Stanley boss fires warning to his players ahead of Bolton Wanderers clash

Accrington Stanley boss John Coleman has called for his players to produce far better at Bolton Wanderers on Easter Monday, after nearly sending their fans 'to sleep' on Good Friday.

Stanley played out a goalless home draw with Burton Albion - a result which left them 14th in the table and four unbeaten in the league. It was Accrington who edged the reverse fixture in December, so Ian Evatt's men will be out for revenge and looking to build on their away win at Doncaster Rovers.

Coleman is well aware of Wanderers' threat and after a drab and disappointing display last time out, knows his team will need to improve significantly tomorrow afternoon.

“When it gets like that the fans get nonplussed," he said post-match on Friday. "The fans are looking to us to inspire them and we didn’t. It's a two-way process, football fan-ship and playing. We didn't play our part today, I think we nearly sent them to sleep. We are miles better than that and we have to show it on Monday at Bolton.

“It is going to be a tough game, they had a good win. I think our fans will travel in their numbers, it will be a good atmosphere and hopefully we can make them a bit more excited than what we did (vs Burton).

"It had all the hallmarks of a testimonial, or pre-season friendly. We were some comfortable in the first-half, it was embarrassing, and we didn't really step-up on it or trouble their goalkeeper. We invited them (Burton) into a game they should never have been in and they had a good go in the second half.

"I am pleased with a clean sheet but when you are in the ascendancy you have got to win games and it wouldn’t have taken much to score. We had 16 or 17 shots and only five or six on target. We are better than what we showed today, I know we are - it's been a long season and it's showing at the moment. A lot of these lads have played a lot of games and it catches up on them."

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.