Stanley boss John Coleman admits it’s crunch time if his side are once again to challenge for the play-offs.

The 15th placed Reds take on four out of five teams above them in League Two over the festive period and, if they are to close the gap, then wins are a must.

First up is Torquay tomorrow, who are five points ahead of the Reds in ninth place. Local rivals Morecambe follow on Boxing Day with Jim Bentley’s men in eighth spot and also five points ahead of the Reds.

Next up is a trip to 21st placed Hereford on Friday 30 December before they tackle 13th placed Macclesfield at home on January 2 – on the same points as the Reds but ahead on goal difference.

Then Stanley travel to the Pirelli Stadium to take on fifth place Burton on January 6.

It’s a testing time for the Reds who are on a five league game unbeaten run and Coleman knows his side need to keep amassing the points.

"The next four or five games are massive for us," said the Reds chief. "These are the games we have got to get points from if we are to have any aspirations of challenging for the play-offs again this season.

"We have got ourselves in a position where we are looking upwards and now we have got to keep the run going.

"I have never been worried about our form as I think we have been playing well. I think our worst league performance so far was against Shrewsbury and we only lost that 1-0. We didn’t play well, we knew we could improve and since then we have gone on a run.

"Torquay are on a good run too and I have watched them and had them watched.

"Martin Ling hasn’t changed much since Paul Buckle left. They got to the play-offs last season and they are there or thereabouts this season so we know what they are all about."

Then there is the Boxing Day clash at Morecambe – one the fans always look forward to with the Reds not losing to the Shrimps since 2005.

"We have a good record against them but it will count for nothing," said Coleman. "I have a lot of time for Jim Bentley. I like the way he conducts himself and I am not surprised that he has done well as a manager. You get a feeling about players who go into management and have success and he ticked all the boxes."

Sean Hessey is suspended after picking up five bookings for the season at AFC Wimbledon – where the Reds celebrated their first away win since February.

But Coleman has Peter Murphy and on-loan Tom Bender waiting in the wings. "We have got players who are desperate for their chance," he said. Blackburn Rovers loanee Micah Evans has extended his loan spell but is battling to be fit after picking up an injury and missing Saturday’s 2-0 win.