JOHN Coleman reckons he must have walked under a ladder on Friday 13th while smashing a mirror.
The Reds boss can’t believe his side’s bad luck this season as they struggle at the wrong end of the League Two table.
The Reds have picked up just 13 points out of the last 45 after conceding late goals and failing to take their chances which has left the manager talking of "witches" and "exorcism" in some press conferences as he seeks out some answers.
But Coleman was confident their luck could change for their "must win" clash at fellow relegation candidates Bournemouth on Saturday, who started the season with a 17 point deduction.
But instead the misfortune went on as Andy Procter blasted over a penalty on 80 minutes and, six minutes later, Cherries top striker Brett Pitman - who didn’t look like he had his shooting boots on all game - popped up to volley home a vital winner four minutes from time.
And this really leaves the Reds down in the dumps with three defeats in their last four games and a poor run of two wins in 14 games which keeps them looking anxiously over their shoulders.
"I personally feel I am a very unlucky manager," said Coleman.
"But there is only one way you can get out of being unlucky and that is hard work on the training ground. It is about trying to motivate players and instil confidence into them that they are a good side and tell them ‘now go out and get what you deserve’ which is three points.
"You can either curl up and hope it goes away or stick your chest out and come out fighting and I know what I will be doing."
And he will be asking his players to do the same on the pitch after they couldn’t repeat the glory of their last trip to Dean Court.
Then it had been in 2003 in the FA Cup and the non-league Reds held league club Bournemouth to what was a glorious draw with 700 fans cheering and singing and enjoying the south coast.
There was a lot less supporters at Saturday’s clash but this game was even bigger with both sides fighting for their league status.
But the Reds just couldn’t finish their chances - especially a gilt-edged one in Procter’s penalty which ended up in the car park behind the empty area behind the goal.
And, at the other end, they needed keeper Kenny Arthur to be at his best as he pulled off a number of top saves to make sure it was a tight affair.
Then one mistake late in a game - as has happened so often lately - led to the Reds’ downfall.
Winger Jake Thomson, on loan from Southampton, ran free of replacement left back Jay Bell to loop in a high cross with 86 minutes on the clock.
It eluded the tall powerful figure of Cherries striker Steve Fletcher and dropped nicely for Pitman, standing unmarked just behind him, to fire home his fifth goal in five games.
And that was game over.
"We had our fingers burnt late on against Brentford and it happened again," said Coleman.
"We left a player free on the wing and someone has left their man to challenge for the ball and his man has scored.
"It was a culmination of errors and if someone eliminates one then we get away with it. But unfortunately for us, when one of us makes a mistake we tend to have two or three and that is killing us at the moment.
"I don’t think we can have many complaints about not winning the game but losing was a bit harsh.
"But we can’t keep conceding late goals and I think the confidence is shattered and it is up to us to pick them up and get them going again."
Stanley began with the 4-5-1 formation with Paul Mullin the lone striker but it was the Cherries who started strongly with Johnson dangerous on one wing and Danny Hollands a threat on the other.
Fletcher was in the Bournemouth team the last time the Reds played them at Dean Court but defender Kieran Charnock dealt with the physical threat of him well.
There wasn’t a lot of chances but the ones that there were came close.
On 24 minutes a superb Hollands overhead kick had Arthur beaten but hit the post and then the Reds were soon down the other end with a Paul Mullin header somehow tipped over the bar by stopper Shwan Jalal.
The Reds then crafted out another opportunity from their well-worked corner routine just before the break.
John Miles took it, Phil Edwards dummied it and Jimmy Ryan blasted goalwards from the edge of the area. Jalal got to it and turned it onto the post before it bounced down, hit Paul Mullin and somehow landed in the stoppers arms.
Arthur’s next save wasn’t luck but class as he flung himself at a powerful Fletcher point blank header and also denied Pitman and Thomson as Stanley looked to keep a rare shut out.
Coleman was forced to change his team around though after the break with Richardson, Miles and later John Mullin all hobbling off but the introduction of Craig Lindfield - against the club he was loaned out to earlier this season - and debutant Sean McConville did add some urgency to the attack.
Lindfield had a couple of goes without testing Jalal while Arthur denied Fletcher again and it looked like it could be a rare goalless encounter.
Then captain Peter Cavanagh, who had been enjoying more space after the break, raced towards the area on the right and Rhoys Wiggins tripped him.
It was on the edge of the box but referee David Phillips didn’t waste any time pointing to the spot.
It was the Reds third penalty of the season with John Mullin having one saved and Jamie Clarke scoring the other.
But many would have put their house on last season’s regular spot kick taker Procter hitting the target. Instead he blasted over and that lifted Bournemouth. The 4000 fans got behind them urging them forward and the winner and the three points soon followed for the home team.
"We are a good side but unfortunately have a soft centre," added Coleman.
"We defend well for long periods but give daft goals away. If we elimate this then we will beat a lot of teams in ths league."
Coleman will be hunting for a four leaf clover or two magpies before the next games.
