MANAGER John Coleman has put a striker at the top of his wish list before next Thursday's August 31 transfer deadline.

Despite heroics from all his Accrington Stanley team in Monday night's dramatic 1-0 Carling Cup victory over four times League Cup winners Nottingham Forest, the manager is looking to boost his squad.

He has, though, missed out on the Premiership player he was considering making a bid for.

"The lad said he doesn't want to leave the club he is at for the time being," said Coleman. "But I am still trying to bring two more players in before the transfer deadline. One is a specific player - a striker - who our fans will know and I am still looking at options for the other."

However he has confirmed that although Morecambe's David Perkins is of interest, he hasn't made a bid for the midfielder or been in contact with the Conference club. And it is now unlikely anything will happen before the Reds take on Rochdale tomorrow (Sat) in League Two.

The game has historic importance for many of the older Stanley fans as the Reds lost to Rochdale 2-0 in February 1962 - their final home game at Peel Park before they were forced to resign from the league a couple of weeks later.

"It does have special significance but, for us, it is all about what the current squad do tomorrow," said Coleman.

"After Monday's result perhaps the players will relax a bit. We have won and got a clean sheet against higher opposition so why should we be scared of anyone in our league now? And I still think we can play better.

"We are unbeaten in three games but we also know Rochdale will be difficult. They have a manager who knows this league well and they will be smarting from their recent results. They do have a couple of players who can hurt us but, if we play to our strengths, I am confident."

While Stanley are on the up - with the win over Barnet, Friday's draw with Stockport and the Forest win - Rochdale have hit a low point, having lost their first four league games 1-0 and, although they finally scored in the Carling Cup midweek, they lost to Doncaster.

"If we do not get the win against Accrington, then that will increase the pressure on me, the players and the supporters," admitted Dale boss Steve Parkin, who is one of the favourites with the bookies to be the first League Two manager dismissed. "I have watched Accrington a couple of times and they are a lively side. They also played on Monday and have had more of a rest than us.

"It is difficult to ask for patience after four defeats but I remain positive. However we have to start winning sooner or later or the fans get frustrated, the players do and I do, which is no good. Our focus must be on getting a good result at Accrington."

Paul Mullin, who scored his first goal of the season against Forest in the Cup clash, is hoping the town come out and support Stanley in the local derby.

"I hope a few come and watch on the back of Monday's win," said the striker.

"But Rochdale will be hard. All the teams we have come up against in the league so far have been well-organised and it is more physical than most of the Conference games.

"I don't think we have played anywhere near our potential yet but we are starting to show teams what we can do and I think we are acclimatising now to the league."

Midfielder Andy Procter returns from three-game suspension but keeper Rob Elliot is still out with an ankle injury. It was feared Leam Richardson had suffered a fractured cheekbone against Forest but X-Rays show it is not fractured.

  • STRIKER Rommy Boco is expected to be on international duty from September 1-3 when Benin take on Togo in the African Nations Cup qualifiers.