JOHN Coleman admitted the end of season run-in was going to be like being on a rollercoaster - and he is keen to avoid too many more queasy endings.
The Reds chief's stomach was churning after Saturday’s defeat at Chesterfield where there were a few ups but too many downs which led to to Stanley’s 22nd defeat in their 39 League games.
The highs were two Andy Procter goals which looked to be guiding Stanley towards a much-needed win as they track the 50 point mark to overtake last season’s tally - and guarantee League Two safety.
But there were too many lows at Chesterfield which left the Reds derailed with four goals conceded and a card-happy referee Danny McDermid who took six Stanley names in a not-so-dirty game which has left the Reds facing a fine.
And Coleman spent some of the second half sat in the stands after being sent off for protesting to the assistant about the yellow cards.
"It is a case of get in your seat, fasten your safety belt, pay your £1.80 and get on the ride - as that is what is it going to be like between now and the end of the season," said Coleman.
"The thing that really disappoints me is the six bookings and that is why I ultimately got sent to the stands.
"I have no problem with the result but it (the bookings) is a disgrace. We are going to get a fine again and that is the second time and I feel like crying.
"We have worked hard on our discipline this season and we have been going the right way.
"To see the players get betrayed by a whim is heartbreaking. The lack of consistency is nothing short of appaling."
Ian Craney was booked immediately after their first goal along with Phil Picken in an off-the-ball incident; Jay Harris entered the notebook for kicking the ball away; keeper Kenny Arthur was booked for time-wasting, Andy Todd saw yellow for something he said to the referee; Leam Richardson for a foul while Graham Branch was also booked for a foul - on the assistant’s say so.
Meanwhile, despite keeper Barry Roche barging Shaun Whalley off the ball which led to Stanley's second from the penalty spot, only Picken was booked for the home side and it was easy to understand the manager’s frustration.
But the frustration on the pitch was of the Reds’ own making.
It had looked bleak when top scorer Paul Mullin didn’t recover from a calf strain picked up at Rochdale and it was a makeshift front line of Whalley and Craney.
However, there could be no compaints in the opening 30 minutes when Stanley charged into a two-goal lead courtesy of Procter, back in the side after missing three games with a shoulder injury.
In the Reds first real attack, Phil Edwards played a cross in, Whalley flicked the ball on, Aswad Thomas headed against the crossbar and goal poacher Procter was there to tap home a shock opener against the play-off chasing side on 23 minutes.
Eight minutes later and the 88- travelling supporters were celebrating a two-goal lead. Coleman had complained his side hadn’t had many penalties recently - they have had six against this season (two saved) and four for them prior to Saturday.
Then Craney threaded a ball through, Whalley ran onto it and the keeper Roche left Whalley grounded.
The first reaction was that the goalie would be sent off as it was a goalscoring opportunity but Mr McDermid felt the penalty was enough and Procter duly punished them for his 11th goal of season.
They were barely able to enjoy their advantage though as straight away, a move down the left ended with Mark Roberts heading the ball out and it fell at the feet of Derek Niven who bent the ball into the bottom of the net.
"We were in control at 2-0 and then we have given a stupid goal away and it is Keystone Cops defending again," raged the Reds boss.
"We have given them a foothold back in the game. That has lifted the players, lifted their fans and we were under no pressure again - that is what we have done all too often this season."
But Chesterfield might have thought differently as soon after they lost Golden Boot chaser Jack Lester to a broken nose after a clash with David Mannix.
And then, on the stroke of half-time, midfielder Mannix cleared a Jamie Ward header off the line to stop it being all-square at the break.
But it didn’t take long for the home side to recover as a "minute of madness" cost the Reds what would have been a decent result.
A seemingly harmless throw in on 57 minutes bounced around the area and the ball fell to defender Roberts who twisted and chested it into his own goal, with no Chesterfield player around him.
As if that wasn’t bad enough but, one minute later, Steve Fletcher and David Dowson both had a go at goal before the ball rebounded off Edwards and fell to the unmarked winger Jamie Lowry who finished well.
"You know when you are heading into your own net under no pressure you are in trouble," said Coleman. "Mark has had a decision to make and has made the wrong one. It was a minute of madness."
It was the third time this season, the Reds have let a two goal lead slip with them doing the same in the cups against Oldham and Huddersfield.
"It just isn’t good enough," said Coleman. "Our defence is not capable of concentrating for 90 minutes.
"I am partly to blame as I have signed the players who aren’t good enough. We need to improve and players will come and go at the end of the season."
He did try to change it, putting Graham Branch up front to do the holding job of Mullin and they did almost get back in it when Whalley sent Craney through but his shot was saved by Roche’s feet.
Then there was chaos as Branch entered the notebook after a seemingly harmless tackle, Coleman protested to the fourth official and the assistant and then the referee was called over sending Coleman off to the stands.
At first there was no seat, so he was forced to sit on the steps before being moved to the directors box in front of a baying Chesterfield crowd.
To add insult to injury, Ward finished it off as they broke quickly from a Reds' free kick, sliced open the visiting defence and Dowson found the nippy striker who tapped the ball around Arthur and finished into the net.
Coleman's side hit a low for this one - he has to hope there are a few more highs to come before May.
