Stanley manager John Coleman believes reaching 50 points at this stage of the season is a proud moment as it shows just how far the team have come.

The Reds are currently on 49 points following their 1-1 draw with Carlisle on Tuesday, leaving them just one point off the usual safety target of 50 that teams set themselves.

Stanley only managed 56 points in the entirety of last season’s campaign, and Coleman is delighted with the progress his squad have made.

“It’d be a smashing achievement for the players and that’s our aim,” he told the club’s official website. “You have your little mini goals and mine have always been 30 points, then 50 points, then 70 points.

“The quicker you can get past the 50 the quicker you can set about trying to assault the 70.

“If you can get 74 or 75 you’re more or less guaranteed play-offs and that’s what we’re aiming to do first and foremost and then maybe have a go at the top three.

“There’s a lot of football still to be played and you can get carried away if you aren’t careful and lose sight of what got you successful in the first place.

“Our success has been purely down to hard work. I think the ability was evident from the start of pre-season but the players are getting the rewards from the hard work they are putting in.

“There are lots of teams all in with a chance of the play-offs and we’re just one of the pack.

“You have to strive to keep your place and we want to cement that place.”

Saturday’s opponents Oxford are one place above Stanley in the table.

Coleman upset at first-half failings

Stanley manager John Coleman feels that his side’s first- half performances in recent weeks have not been good enough.

Stanley have had to come from behind in several of their matches as of late, including their last two games against Crawley and Carlisle.

The Reds boss hasn’t been happy with what he has seen in the opening 45 minutes of games, and expects a drastic change when they travel to Oxford on Saturday.

“It’s three performances in a row now where in the first half we haven’t turned up and we’ve got to be better than that,” he said.

“Against Carlisle we went into our shell and got nervous and only had a chance in the last minute of the first half, so we’ve fell into the trap of being predictable.

“I know that we’re better than that, but when you’re not playing particularly well it’s important that you can pick up something, so that could turn out to be a very valuable point.”