JOHN Coleman knows all about Crewe’s strikers - as he tried to sign two of them.

Clayton Donaldson, when he was at York and ex-Stevenage hitman Anthony Elding have been one-time targets for the Reds boss.

"They do have a big attacking threat and a lot of options," said Coleman. "I once tried to sign Clayton Donaldson and then we have played against Elding a number of times.

"And they also have a big lad up front in Calvin Zola so it’s something we have to watch out for."

Coleman has the option to make changes with midfielder Jimmy Ryan back in contention after suffering a deep cut on his leg.

"It’s good to have him back and I will have to make a decision. Andy Procter has been doing well in midfield and I think he is getting back to the form of the season before last when he was at his best."

Coleman is also considering his goalkeeping choices after Ian Dunbavin made a mistake for Hereford’s first goal in the 2-0 defeat on Saturday but rectified it by saving a penalty with Alan Martin pushing him for the number one spot.

"It’s good to have two decent keepers who are pushing each other," said the Reds boss.

Coleman, though, has been furious at his side’s hit and miss season so far - so good against Darlington and then so poor against Hereford last Saturday.

"It’s the inconsistency which is killing us. It’s plagued us for the last three years - we are so inconsistent it is untrue. You don’t know what you are going to get out of people but there is no point ranting and raving all the time.

"You have got to try and be constructive and the best way to deal with that is to sit down and watch the video, show the players the videos when they have done well - the Darlington game last week - and we will show them the Hereford defeat and ask them to take some ownership of solving the problem."