Stanley manager John Coleman admits he has a tough task stopping his players dreaming of an FA Cup clash with Manchester United.

The draw for the third round was made on Monday night so Stanley travel to Yeovil for Tuesday’s replay knowing that if they win, United will visit Accrington on the weekend of January 3/4.

While Yeovil boss Gary Johnson said he ‘high-fived’ his wife when the draw was made, Coleman has been trying not to get carried away just yet.

“It’s pointless thinking past Yeovil but it will be in the back of our minds,” said the Reds’ boss. “Financially, it would be a big boost. It’s like
winning the lottery – but our numbers haven’t come up yet.

“There’ll be more riding on our game than any other replay. But as much as it’s an incentive for them, it’s an incentive for Yeovil too.

“We gave a good account of ourselves last Saturday but we expect a different Yeovil at their place.

“If we go there and play to the best of our ability we’ve got a chance and hopefully we can get that glamour tie.”

Before that, Stanley visit Portsmouth in the league on Saturday with both sides within five points of the play-offs.

“It’s a worry for me that the players are going to be distracted on Saturday,” Coleman admitted.

“We still feel we’ve got a realistic chance of making the play-offs so every league game is important.

“But you’d be a liar if you said Saturday’s game was more important than Tuesday’s. If we can win on Tuesday it’ll have a far greater impact on the club than if we win on
Saturday.

“The money that playing United would generate could be the difference between us being able to launch a promotion challenge or not.

“But the best way to make sure we go into Tuesday’s game in form is by winning on Saturday.”

Andy Procter is doubtful with the groin problem that forced him off during last Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Yeovil while Adam Buxton remains out.

Loanees Sean Maguire and John O’Sullivan should return at Portsmouth but are ineligible for the FA Cup.

Stanley came from behind to earn the replay and Coleman feels that bodes well for their double-header down south.

“The players showed that they’ve got a lot of belief in themselves and each other,” he said.

“The strength of character we’ve got in the side is great and I know we’ll get better.

“We’re trying to get a momentum going where we believe we’re going to win every game.”

With so much riding on the replay, Stanley chairman Peter Marsden dubbed it a ‘heart-attack game’.

“The first game was evenly matched but I thought we were unlucky not to win,” he said.

“Yeovil will be fired up for the replay but I’ve got faith in John and Jimmy Bell. They’ve shown many times before that they can get that extra five per cent out of the players and hopefully that will be the difference.

“It would be a great reward for the players, the fans and for John and Jimmy.

“Since coming back they’ve brought us all together as one club.

“It would also give the whole town a big boost.

“We’ve been unlucky in recent years not to have had a Cup run. It’d be about time we got a big team here so hopefully this will be our year.”

  • Assistant manager Paul Stephenson this week left the club by mutual consent.

The 46-year-old arrived to assist Leam Richardson towards the end of the 2012/13 season and remained in that role under James Beattie last term. He’s since been linked with the vacant manager’s position at former club Hartlepool.

  • Keeper Jack Rose has extended his loan from West Brom to January 17.