Padraig Amond says he and his team-mates are desperate to get a win for Paul Cook.

The new Stanley boss has been in charge for six games and, with two home matches tomorrow and Tuesday, last Saturday’s hero Amond is hoping that they can chalk up their first three points under the new manager.

“We have got Northampton tomorrow and that is a big game,” said the 23-year-old with Cook having overseen three draws and three defeats so far.

“Obviously with the two home games, we need to win and it will be nice to get that first win for the gaffer because we have deserved one so much recently and I am sure it is coming.

“Once we have got that, then  we can push on.

“At the start, it (Cook’s reign) was about getting the first goal, getting that clean sheet and we are just building on little things.

“We know it is not going to happen overnight.

“What John (Coleman) and Jimmy (Bell) have done at Accrington is unbelievable.

“I know I have only been here a season but John came over to Ireland a few years ago when I was playing at Sligo and obviously Sligo have ex-Accy players like Danny Ventre and Rommy Boco so I know what has been achieved here.

“They are big shoes to fill but the gaffer is the right man for the job and hopefully we can get that win for him.”

Cook is certainly a man for the fans, which he showed by standing with the Reds’ supporters at Roots Hall when he was sent from the touchline – and getting to celebrate Amond’s late goal with them.

“I have seen him celebrate with the crowd before, not because he has been sent off but because he likes watching the game from over there with the fans,” said Amond, who was with Cook when he was boss at Sligo.

“He is really passionate and was unlucky to be sent off but it was great for him to be over with the  travelling fans.

“A lot of people give us stick saying we haven’t got the greatest support but the people who are here really are fantastic and they show the passion. For the manager to celebrate a last-minute equaliser with them is probably a special moment for them and a special moment for him.”

Amond was not going to be denied his seventh goal of the season despite it being a melee in the box for Kevin McIntyre’s last-gasp corner which rescued a point at Southend.

It could have come off goalkeeper Cameron Belford but Amond was insistent that he was the goal hero.

“It was my goal,” he said with a grin. “I got across the front of my marker and knocked it in.

“The gaffer has always been onto us about getting across players and causing trouble and I have knocked it in and no matter how it has got in we have got a point from it – but it’s mine!”

Amond, on loan from Portuguese side Pacos De Ferreira until the end of the season, says the game at Roots Hall showed that the club is definitely going in the right direction since the departure of Coleman and Bell, who led Stanley from the UniBond First Division into the Football League.

“The Southend game showed the team’s great character – not to be affected by decisions that went against us but just to get on with it and score late on. We reacted well and didn’t let the decisions get us down.

“We were down to 10 men and it shows our football levels are rising again.

“We are not conceding late goals, we are actually scoring them and that’s a good sign for the team and hopefully we can push on and get the win we deserve.

“We are all in this together and all pulling one way.”

He continued: “The gaffer he has been fantastic since he took over. I have obviously worked with him before at Sligo so I know what he wants and the type of football he wants to play and I said to the lads ‘keep with it and it will work’ as I have seen it happen before.

“He has been a breath of fresh air for me and I am really enjoying playing up front again and  the goals are showing it.

“Everyone wants to push on and be the best we can for Accrington Stanley and try and push us up the league – if we get into the play-offs that’s great but we are just trying to build for the future.

“My future is a bit up in the air at the moment as I am on loan until the end of the season butI am really enjoying my football and I am so happy here.”