"DUMB-FOUNDED, sickened, unacceptable and abysmal" were some of the words manager John Coleman used to describe his side's shock loss to struggling Farnborough.

The boss was shell-shocked after Stanley turned in a lack-lustre performance against ten-men following the euphorics of their LDV Vans victory over Coca Cola League One side Bradford midweek.

"It's sickening - it is like getting hit with a sledgehammer," said Coleman. "Our players either take you so high or so low. One minute they are saving your life, the next minute they are breaking into your house and taking your telly.

"There is no in-between. We are either brilliant or really poor and against Farnborough we were poor.

"We have taken one point out of nine and really we should have taken seven. That's relegation form and we won't be in the play-offs if we play like that."

It was just a day in which the Reds never got going despite starting with some promise. They made two good early chances when Paul Mullin played in a great ball which Ian Craney couldn't get on the end of and then Lee McEvilly was the provider but Mullin's strike produced a great point blank save from Boro's keeper Craig Holloway.

Boro, who finished in the bottom three last season but were saved from relegation, had French star Sasha Opinel to thank for making a last ditch tackle on Steve Jagielka while Bradford hero McEvilly fired over.

However that was all in the first 15 minutes and then Farnborough, with just two wins under their belt this season, took charge.

Lloyd Blackman's header from a corner hit the bar and then right back Danny Allen-Page, following up, had his effort cleared off the line by Ged Brannan.

It was only a quick let-off for Stanley as Allen-Page hit a 30-yard right-footed strike which went beyond the diving Jon Kennedy for 1-0 on 26 minutes.

Coleman was fuming with the goal. "We set off like a house on fire and for 15 minutes we were like Real Madrid but after that Farnborough controlled the game.

"It wasn't a wonder goal. Ian Craney left his man and gave him time and space to get his shot in.

"But saying that, it's a shot from 30 yards and it wasn't like a bullet and I would expect the keeper to save it. He hasn't and that's down to Jon and Jon's personal pride shouldn't let himself get beat from 30 yards."

The woodwork then saved Stanley again when Opinel's ball in found new signing Stephen Hughes and he lashed the ball against the post.

Coleman changed things around at half-time putting on young striker Shaun Tuck for his debut and moving Robbie Williams from midfield into the right back slot.

Stanley were still struggling but dragged themselves back into the game when McEvilly's strike was saved by the keeper but it bobbled out to Mullin who, with the goal gaping, was brought down from behind by Nick Burton.

The Boro defender was shown the red card and Brannan slotted home his third penalty of the campaign - and fourth goal of the season.

Hope was restored and the Stanley fans must have been confident that their side would find their form and see off ten-man Boro with ease.

But it wasn't to be. The referee was pointing to Stanley's penalty spot four minutes later when Peter Cavanagh was judged to have handled Opinel's header in the area.

Tony Taggart had no problem sending Kennedy the wrong way.

Coleman kept trying to change things putting on Jonathan Smith and Paul Cook but they failed to trouble the Boro goal while the home side had a couple of chances to add to the score. This was especially in stoppage time when Opinel burst through but his effort was over the bar.

"Ours was a stonewall penalty and if the ref hadn't have given ours, he wouldn't have given theirs," explained Coleman. "If you can put your hands up to block a ball from a yard out and the reaction is that good, then you should be a middleweight boxer.

"It is a sympathetic penalty but that's not the reason we lost - the reason we lost was we were totally and utterly poor.

"With no disrespect to Farborough, we should have come here and won but in the end they deserved to win. I tried to get a bit of spark by putting Tucker on and tried to get some life in us.

"Our passing was abysmal and we were reliant on the big hoof which is not our game.

"Perhaps we have got a little bit carried away by the start of the season. We think we can just turn up and teams will roll over well, Farnborough showed today that they will not - and nor should we expect them to.

"While I am in charge, we won't keep turning our performances like that. I will not allow it and the players are under no illusions that this is unacceptable. If the players want to play for me and this club then they will have to sharpen up.

"This result has just left me utterly dumbfounded and I will have to have a long hard think about it."