Leam Richardson didn’t have to do a team talk as Paul Cook’s pre-match interview did it all for him.

Former Reds manager Cook left in October to become Chesterfield’s boss with many of the Stanley fans feeling let down after just 33 games in charge.

In an interview about his return to the Crown Ground, Cook did praise the club but also said: “I really think that we’ve got some good players and I look at Accrington’s squad and I look at our squad and I think to myself ‘I know what dressing room I’d rather be in’.”

Of course the Chesterfield dressing room costs a lot more money and is on much higher wages than the Reds but Cook’s  quote  was pinned up on the Stanley wall and it was their sheer determination and will to win which led to a welcome three  points for the first game of 2013.

And it had to be Rommy Boco, signed by Cook at Sligo and Accrington, who came up with the only goal of the game.

“Paul texted me before the game and, as a joke, told me not to play my best!” said the Benin international who obviously didn’t pay much heed to his former ‘gaffer’. 

“It was special for some with Paul Cook returning but he’s my mate after all and I was just happy to have done my best.

“This season I wasn’t thinking  about scoring goals like I have (he has nine for the season) but it’s nice for me.

“It was also nice to have singing in the dressing room as, for the last two months, it’s been sad and crying!”

Reds boss Richardson was happy for fans’ favourite Boco, who latched onto a pass from Padraig Amond and fired low into the net in the 65th minute. Richardson said: “Rommy is fantastic; he popped up with a goal and put in a shift which is all your can ask.

“Before the game we asked everyone to walk off the pitch having given their all and they all did that.”

While Boco deserved the plaudits for his winner it was a player who had no connection to Cook who also stole the show.

Cameron Belford didn’t have a point to prove to Cook – as many of the Reds players did after having been signed by him – but the goalkeeper was out to show what a good stopper he is after falling to third choice at Bury.

And the emergency loanee certainly showed his worth with a string of superb saves which won the man-of-the-match award and had the Stanley fans singing ‘sign him up’ on a permanent deal.

Belford was superb –   he saved from Sam Togwell who was one-on-one with the stopper, he denied Jack Lester – who has always had a habit of scoring against the Reds – he spectacularly tipped over a Marc Richards free kick and he kept out Tendayi Darikwa from close range when it looked like the net was going to bulge – and that’s to name but a few.

“Cameron made some fantastic saves,” enthused Richardson who has had two strong goalkeepers on loan in Belford and Paul Rachubka with regular keeper Ian Dunbavin out for the season.

“It’s nice to have a good dilemma with keepers! Both have done smashing and are very good professionals.”

And Boco echoed this: “We have been lucky to have two good keepers both on loan, if you keep clean sheets it gives you a chance to win games.

“We managed to keep a clean sheet on Tuesday. We have been scoring but then we conceded one or two and so a clean sheet gives you a chance.”

And Stanley also had to thank Lady Luck, who was certainly smiling on the Reds in the New Year’s day clash after going AWOL for the last month or so.

Chesterfield’s Lester – usually so deadly – scuffed a couple of good chances and the top of the crossbar kept out Richards and Mark Randall in the first half.

It also looked like the visitors had equalised with three minutes remaining but Sam Hird’s headed goal was offside.

The Reds backline, with Nicky Hunt making his debut at right back, deserve the praise for being strong and keeping their first clean sheet since October at Morecambe.

Stanley have been on the end of it too many times though – failing to take their chances and the opposition being clinical and this time it was role reversal with Boco making his chance count.

Stanley did have other opportunities with Boco testing the keeper early on, Amond having a great chance blocked and George Miller unable to make a proper connection when at full stretch.

But one was enough to give the Reds a happy start to 2013 and give them something to build on now.

“I think we thoroughly deserved the win,” said Richardson. “Chesterfield have got some very good players but we gave a very good account of ourselves and, as the home team, the onus was on us to take the game to them, which we did.

“We spoke about it before the game, that it’s a new year and let’s hope we get that little bit of luck that we didn’t get towards the end of last year, and we did and everyone put a shift in. I am really pleased for every single player.

“Chesterfield put us under pressure towards the end, we stayed strong and the keeper has made some fantastic saves, the defenders have made some goalmouth clearances and we coped and luckily we came through with the win.”

Richardson admitted, while Cook got some stick off the home fans – who felt betrayed after Stanley gave him a chance in English football after a successful spell at Sligo – he has total admiration for his former boss.

“I have a lot of respect for Paul, I enjoyed working with him and I learnt a lot,” said Richardson.

“I keep in touch with him daily and I think he will be successful.

“I know Paul will be disappointed but, if he had to lose against any team, I think he would choose Accrington.”

Cook knew he would get some stick– and accepted it. “People can laugh at me as much as they want. It’s their night and I hope they enjoy it. Good luck to Accrington,” he said.