STANLEY have picked up just one point out of the last seven league games with defeat to the MK Dons leaving them periously close to the relegation places.
And manager John Coleman knows that defence is the key as his Conference winning side need to stop conceding goals - they have let in 13 in the last five games.
"We have scored three magnificent goals, the MK Dons have scored one good goal. That's the top and bottom of it," raged the Reds boss. "We have gifted them another three. If we keep defending like that, we'll go down, it's as simple as that. So we've got to not defend like that so we'll stay up."
The Reds could do little about the opening goal from highly-rated Dons forward Izale McLeod who raced down the wing, with the Stanley defence giving him time and space, and he unleashed a vicious shot into the goal on 15 minutes.
However, that sparked a Reds revival as they looked for their first win since October 14.
Paul Mullin got on the end of Joe Jacobson's cross for the equaliser on 38 minutes to halt a goal drought which was almost three months long.
And then he quickly got another with the striker heading home Leighton's McGivern ball in four minutes later.
However the half-time team talk seemed to inspire Martin Allen's side who then scored two quick-fire goals of their own to retake the lead.
Aaron Wilbraham bundled the ball home on 54 minutes after keeper Ian Dunbavin failed to deal with a cross and then, three minutes later, Stanley failed to clear a corner and Wilbraham was one hand again to give the Dons a 3-2 lead.
To make matters worse, Reds defender Robbie Williams was then sent off on 63 minutes for a second yellow card.
And the Dons seemed to have the game wrapped up when Sean O'Hanlon headed home from a corner on 80 minutes.
But the ten men made sure it was a lively finish with Andy Mangan scoring a 20-yard stunner eight minutes from time but another evaded them.
