THE 'goals scored' column has never really been a worry for Accrington Stanley boss John Coleman - until now.

The Reds have always been a goal-getting side - even last season when they were battling against relegation from League Two, they were one of the highest scorers in the league.

And Coleman had been praising his wealth of front options in pre-season - with a host of strikers including Paul Mullin, Lee McEvilly, Roscoe Dsane, Leighton McGivern and he added speedy Preston youngster Chris McGrail last week.

But one goal in four games - the winner by Mullin at Wycombe on the opening day - has now given the manager a headache.

"To lose two league games and have only one goal is a worry and a concern," said the dejected Reds boss after watching his side defeated by pre-season promotion favourites Lincoln on Saturday.

"It is something we have to address as well as addressing our defensive frailties.

"It is something we have got to spend time on but it is what we get paid to do, we get paid to work hard, and there will be a lot of hard work goes in this week."

Coleman is desperate to arrest the slide as, even it is only early days in the season, the club needs to boost crowd numbers to bring money in and he genuinely believes his side can press for a play-off push provided they can put an indifferent start behind them.

It was always going to be a hard opening to their second campaign in the Football League as they were matched against four of the play-off hopefuls in their first four league encounters.

However, the Reds had gone to Sincil Bank with an air of optimism after the opening day win at Wycombe and the hope the away form could be the spur this season.

Coleman had to make two changes with captain Peter Cavanagh injuring his calf in training and Graham Branch falling sick on Saturday morning and Phil Edwards and Leam Richardson got their chance to stake a claim for a regular starting berth.

As at Wycombe, both sides tested each other out in the heat in the early stages with the Imps still rattled by an indifferent start which saw them hammered 4-0 on the opening day of the season at home to Shrewsbury.

However, the home side got going first and their balls over the top were providing rich pickings for the experienced strikeforce of Mark Stallard and Jamie Forrester, who look a force to be reckoned with.

Wily campaigner Forrester beat the off-side trap and forced a good save out of Kenny Arthur early on while Frenchman Dany N'Guessan showed signs of what was to come as he tested the Reds keeper with a high lob which Arthur had to back track for.

John Schofield's side were pressing but the Reds managed to contain them and then Stanley right winger John Miles created the first real chance for the visitors on 20 minutes.

He played in a low cross which found unmarked Jay Harris but the midfielder had his back to goal and fired it into the Lincoln fans behind the goal and the chance went begging.

And then the game fast turned into the N'Guessan show as he was a menace on the left flank, making it a hard game for Edwards to come into.

At the other end, Reds frontmen Lee McEvilly and Paul Mullin were getting little service and defenders Nat Brown and Adie Moses were keeping them at bay.

The opening goal threatened - and it came on 31 minutes when Lincoln broke at pace, one of their major threats.

It was a sweeping passing move which involved Stallard and Forrester with the latter setting up N'Guessan who stroked the ball past the diving Arthur from the left hand side of the area.

And Stanley could have conceded a second a minute later when uncontrollable N'Guessan had another go on goal but a slight deflection took the ball wide.

Rommy Boco had carved out a couple of opportunities and the then blasted wide from 20 yards but Lincoln were in charge and Coleman admitted he needed to get his side going again at the break.

It did work as, for the opening 10 minutes after the re-start, the Reds threatened.

Miles played a good ball across goal but no one was there and he won himself a free kick on the edge of the area but the winger dinked it narrowly over the crossbar.

And Edwards almost made a goal out of nothing charging into the area, evading a number of tackles but he fired the ball straight at Alan Marriott.

The keeper did well to parry it away and if fell to sub David Brown, who had just come on, and he put the ball back in but the grounded Edwards could only steer it over.

Coleman always says you need to score in your spell of pressure - and the Reds didn't and were made to pay.

The Imps were always dangerous on the break and Arthur had to be alert to keep out Forrester who had ran through unmarked.

The Reds didn't learn and minutes later it was Stallard who burst through.

Defender Robbie Williams did look to have brought him down but, while Stanley were waiting for the referee's reaction, the floored striker hooked the ball to Louis Dodds who had the easy task of rifling it into the empty net for his second goal of the season.

"It was a cheap ball over the top, it caught us at sixes and sevens. They appeal for a penalty, everything stops and then they score," bemoaned Coleman.

"That is not defending for your life and that is something we are going to have to address. If the people there at the moment won't do it, then someone else will."

2-0 on 66 minutes and, in the stifling heat, it was effectively game over.

Winger Shaun Whalley came on immediately after and then there was the rare sight of Mullin being brought off, replaced by newcomer McGrail.

But Lincoln were still in control and Williams was lucky to pick up just a yellow after he brought down N'Guessan on another of their quick attacks.

The Imps kept pressing for a third with defender Brown having a couple of free headers from corners, which must be a worry for the Reds boss, while N'Guessan had a 20 yard blast well pushed out by Arthur.

It could have been worse for the Reds and Coleman is demanding better tomorrow.

"We showed a lot of resilience at Wycombe, but didn't at Lincoln and we can't keep buckling under minimal pressure. They were silly goals and very avoidable," added Coleman.

"They will feel the first goal is a good one but for us it was a daft goal and was preventable.

"That gave them a bit of a lift and we lost a bit of confidence,

"But we had gone in at half-time and set out a game-plan for second half.

"It was working well, we were pinning them in and then we got a warning when they broke and Kenny made a great save.

"But we didn't learn from it and gave away a second cheap goal

"When the things you speak about are not carried out, it is very frustrating and we will get it right.

"We have got to learn from our mistakes and learn from what has gone wrong and everything will be geared to getting a positive result at Peterborough tomorrow.

"If we can play as well as we can then I am sure we can get a positive result."