THE STANLEY of old are back - and midfielder Ian Craney wants to make sure they are here to stay.
After a bag of mixed results in League Two this season, the Reds bounced back in stunning style with a 5-0 thumping of Wrexham on Wednesday night.
It was similar to the Conference winning shows of last season and now they want to make sure they continue moving up that table - starting with Boston United at home tomorrow (Sat).
"That was more like it," smiled Craney, who celebrated the first league goal of his career and starred in the rout. "It has been so frustrating for me but I think I took my frustrations out of the pitch against Wrexham and we got back to basics and I showed what I am about.
"We showed why we won the league so convincingly last season and showed everyone what the team is about too.
"On Monday, after losing to Notts Count on Saturday, it was like we had been relegated. Now we can't wait for the next game. It is unbelievable what a difference it has made.
"We know Boston will be a totally different proposition. They are a tall physical side while Wrexham like to get the ball down and pass it.
"So it will be a different kind of test but one now we are all looking forward to."
Gary Roberts, who has scored five goals in four games including a brace against Wrexham, admitted: "A good performance has been a long time coming - we are eight games in now and that was our best performance by a mile. Hopefully we will kick on from here.
"We have taken stick from people saying we are not coping in this league and not good enough and now we have thrown it back in people's faces.
"I am delighted with my goals - it is always nice to see the ball hit the back of the net and the manager gave me a lot of freedom on Wednesday night and I really enjoyed it.
"But I am also pleased for the defence who kept their first league clean sheet of the season - for Ian Dunbavin and the back four. Now we have got to start moving up the league."
He, along with Craney, went to watch Boston play recently and he knows tomorrow will be totally different clash to the Wrexham game - but has no fear.
"They are big, physical and direct and we have struggled against these kinds of sides so far this season but what better way can you prepare than with a 5-0 win?" added Roberts.
Assistant manager Jimmy Bell believes his side can kick on now the "true" Accrington Stanley has been revealed to League Two.
"We have set ourselves standards now and we have got to try and emulate it."
Bell continued: "The 5-0 win has helped us move up the table and we were delighed to put five past a quality team like Wrexham who were unbeaten in the league.
"It has also helped our goal difference and a victory over Boston could move us into the top half of the table."
Defender Michael Welch missed the Wrexham game with flu and could be battling to get his place back tomorrow. And striker Rommy Boco is also suffering from a foot injury but he came on as a substitute against the Dragons.
Midfielder Jay Harris is waiting for his chance to get back in the Reds side.
Meanwhile, Bell says there could a loan signing soon: "We are looking at three or four players and hopefully one might come off soon."
- STANLEY have signed central defender Ricky Bains until Christmas. Bains was at Coventry City last year and has played in three of Stanley's reserve games this season.
