STANLEY manager John Coleman had predicted someone would be on the end of an Accrington backlash - and unfortunately for bottom club Leigh it was them.

Despite the scoreline, it wasn't the best of games with Stanley scoring three in a three minute spell on the stroke of half time to put the game beyond doubt.

Ian Craney opened the scoring with an 18yard curler on 25 minutes before, on 44 minutes, Paul Mullin chipped the keeper for his tenth goal of the season.

A minute later, Rory Prendergast charged through to make it two and a deflected Paul Howarth free kick, still in first half injury time, made it 4-0 at the break.

Craney and Prendergast both got a second goal each after the break and, although Leigh never stopped battling, it just went all Stanley's way.

"To be honest we didn't play overly well, everything just went for us and against Leigh," said Coleman.

"They were desperately unlucky to go in 4-0 at half-time but that's football.I think we played better when we lost 1-0 last week and that's not trying to be clever.

"It is okay taking chances when we are winning 3-0 but what we have take them when it is 0-0 and a tight game."