When Stanley lost at Rotherham in mid-February a dejected John Coleman targeted 10 wins from 19 games for a play-off spot.

Having won only seven up to that point, there were some wondering if the Reds chief had gone mad.

In fact, he had called it perfectly as, since that defeat in Sheffield, the Reds have won eight and moved up to sixth spot – and with six games left the in-form side don’t at the moment look like they will lose another.

From front to back, they are brimming with confidence with the defence solid and, at this crucial time of the season, the Reds’ frontmen are putting away the chances.

Stanley took their tally to a staggering eight home wins on the trot against Southend with a bumper crowd of 2,222 – thanks to the £5 admission fee – cheering long into the night as the Reds have their destiny in their own hands.

League One football looked a long way off at the turn of the year when the Reds were just two points off the relegation spots.

But Coleman’s men have been on an unbelievable run since then.

Returning midfielder Ian Craney has played his part with six goals since November – but even he couldn’t believe he had scored with a rare header against the Shrimpers.

Then Terry Gornell pounced on a keeper mistake to fire home his 13th goal of the season before winning a penalty which Phil Edwards coverted.

And Coleman admitted he would struggle to find a Man of the Match, singling out skipper Andy Procter for special praise after an all-action show.

Coleman said: "Proc has taken his game to another level, he has got a smashing work ethic and enthusiasm and is a great character.

"And the goal was just reward for Terry, he is working hard doing a thankless role as the way we are set up means the chances usually come to the three behind him.

"So for him to be the battering ram who holds everything up, when he gets his chances he has to be clinical and he did that on Tuesday and forced the mistake for the penalty."

Coleman though was full of praise for his entire team and he was glad the bumper crowd saw the Reds at their best. He insisted:¿"We are serving up fantastic football, we have done all season and it’s a shame more people don’t want to pay the correct price as, for what we deliver, I think we’re value for money.

"Some of our passing is a joy to watch, one-touch on a difficult pitch, and we are making chances as well.

"We were the better team on Tuesday and I thought we were value for the win with the chances we created.

"We showed a great deal of determination and I am delighted with it.

"We have worked hard on our set plays over the last month, we have spent a lot of time in training on them and it paid off."

It was a new-look corner kick routine for the opener with a Sean McConville delivery being headed in at the near post by the leaping Craney.

Before that both Procter and Luke Joyce had come close as Stanley started as they have their last three home games – on the front foot.

Jimmy Ryan was unlucky when his 30-yard blast cannoned off the crossbar and Craney couldn’t squeeze the ball home from a tight angle.

The match did get a bit fiesty with Ryan Hall catching Procter and Luke Prosser grounding Gornell and it threatened to spill over at times.

And, with the Reds unable to take their chances, it looked like they would be made to pay when Hall’s free kick flew past the wall and into the bottom corner of the net.

But, as is typical of this Coleman side, the Reds never give up or know when they are beaten.

Left back Joe Jacobson also rattled the woodwork; McConville was clean through but keeper Glenn Morris denied him and Dean Winnard forced Morris to tip over his cross.

Southend were throwing their bodies in front of the ball but could do nothing 10 minutes from time when Morris missed the ball and Gornell popped up to force it past the diving defender Bilel Mohsni on the line for his 13th of the season.

And four minutes later Gornell was tripped in the area by the Tunisian defender – who had what can only be described as a hissy fit when he was shown a second yellow card and sent off.

Edwards sent the keeper the wrong way from the penalty spot for his 12th of the season to put the Reds in the promotion places for the first time since October – and now they have to stay there.