JOHN Coleman knows the past means little when Accrington Stanley clash with arch-rivals Hereford tomorrow (Sat) as they continue their battle against the drop.

The mid-table Bulls, promoted with the Reds last year to League Two, have made three league trips to Accrington over the last three years - and have gone back without a single point.

"That counts for nothing now," said the Reds boss. "It is all about on the day and they will be coming, trying to inflict as much damage as possible on us.

"They are certainly not going to roll over. They will want to beat us and there is a bit of history between the two sides and they will be trying to make it as difficult as possible for us.

"But we are not worried about it. The lads, after last week's performance against Torquay, are all up for it and can't wait now."

Stanley saw off the bottom placed Gulls thanks to a last gasp free kick from keeper Peter Cavanagh on Saturday in front of a bumper 4004 crowd, who took advantage of free admission.

However, with eight league games left, the threat of relegation is still looming and they need a similar show - and fans' support - tomorrow.

"It will be interesting to see how many come back," said Coleman.

"The ones who came could not have gone home disappointed as the players gave their all, there was drama with a last minute goal and I would certainly want to come back. I just hope they do because they made a difference."

With the deadline for loan signings at 5pm yesterday - after the Observer had gone to press - Coleman was scouring the transfer market for a striker and a midfielder. He was talking to a front man from Denmark and has also been in contact with Southport about their highly-rated midfielder Carl Baker, who is also interesting Conference club Morecambe.

"We have had contact with Southport but they are in a relegation battle and want to do the best for their club. We are hopeful though," said the Reds chief. "It is a loan move with a view to a permanent deal next season."

Coleman was desperate for a midfielder as Jay Harris is suspended for the next two games after picking up his tenth booking against Torquay.

"That one took me by surprise," said Coleman. "I thought he only had eight but that slipped by me and it is a blow."

Other options include Tony Grant but he came off at half-time due to his Achilles injury in Stanley's 3-2 reserve win over Carlisle on Wednesday night.

Striker David Brown played the full second string game in centre midfield and could get the nod tomorrow with defender Robbie Williams also able to play there.

Defender Michael Welch played up front for the reserves - and scored!

Meanwhile, full back Phil Edwards sits out the second of his two game ban against the Bulls.

Coleman, though, has extended the loan spell of goalkeeper David Martin until April 23 - two games before the season ends - while Polish goalie Przemyslaw Kazimierczak has returned to Bolton after two months with the Reds.

"We have signed David until then as Liverpool were being cautious as they may need Champions League cover," said the Reds chief. "I think you can extend goalkeeper loans so we may do that for the final games of the season."

But he also has Ian Dunbavin fighting for a starting place as he played for around an hour in the reserves as he battles back from a knee injury. And Rommy Boco hopes to be back after missing the Gulls clash with a slight knee strain.

It all means it is bubbling nicely for the clash with the Bulls who have fared better in League Two and will be looking to cement a top half of the table position.

"We were above them before Christmas but they haven't had to go through what we have," said Coleman, as both teams have had different experiences of life back in the Football League.

"They have managed to keep hold of Andy Williams and Tamika Mkandawire when other clubs have come calling and they haven't had the injuries that we have had.

"When you look at our game against them at Edgar Street earlier this season it was only a freak goal which separated the sides and there wasn't a lot between us - so I don't think they have coped better than us, we have just had bad luck."

This "freak" goal came when Alan Connell's 85th minute shot squirmed under keeper Dunbavin's body.

And there is some bad feeling with the Bulls after they ended Stanley's bid to equal the Conference record of 11 wins at Edgar Street last season with two controversial late goals.

But, while Stanley need the three points, Bulls Director of Football Graham Turner has his own agenda.

He is hoping to end a run of three straight defeats by getting rid of the Accrington hoodoo and steering his side up the league.

"We had a poor record at Lincoln but we put that right with a 4-1 win there so patterns from the past can be discounted.

"But Accrington are fighting for their lives and it is never an easy place to go."

He may recall striker Stuart Fleetwood who was on a month's loan at Stanley in January but couldn't make a big impact.

The hitman impressed during Hereford's 1-1 friendly with Coventry midweek and Turner said: "Stuart really caught the eye. Sometimes players do something to demand their inclusion in the team and he might just have done that."

Fleetwood was battling his way back to fitness following a virus when he was with the Reds and hasn't figured in the Hereford first team since his return to Edgar Street.

  • LONG term injury victim Leighton McGivern, who broke his ankle against Macclesfield before Christmas, is building up his calf muscle and the striker hopes to be back in action in around two weeks.
  • STANLEY'S LFA Senior Cup semi-final against Bolton at the Fraser Eagle Stadium will take place on Monday 7 May (ko 7pm). Admission is £5 adults and £3 concessions - all pay on the gate.
  • STANLEY'S reserves play next Wednesday at Manchester City's SportsCity (ko 2pm).
  • THE Reds should know their fate a week today as they go before an Football Disciplinary Commission in Preston to face the charge, made by the Football League, of fielding two ineligible players in three matches where Stanley picked up seven points.