LIKE the fog that came down on the journey home, Accrington Stanley are now shrouded in relegation gloom after a fifth successive defeat.

A Reds side that as recently as Christmas was a contender for a play-off place is now in freefall with the 1-0 reverse against Plymouth Argyle the latest below par performance to plague John Coleman’s men.

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The Reds boss made six changes to his side following the previous week’s 5-1 hammering against Northampton, with new signings Scott Davies and Terry Gornell coming straight into the side.

The new look team started promisingly against an Argyle side themselves without a win since December.

The early half chances fell to the home side with Bobby Reid and Peter Hartley off target with efforts before Davies blocked from Olly Lee.

Stanley were a threat on the counter attack and one such foray saw Josh Windass intercept a poor pass and burst towards goal. Shay McCartan had made a run into space to his right but the midfielder elected to shoot, seeing his strike deflected behind for a corner much to McCartan’s disgust.

Moments later McCartan fired wide from Seamus Conneely’s tee up inside the area and it seemed the visitors were the greater threat.

Sadly, during Stanley’s dreadful run missed chances have been followed by terrible errors and that was the case again as Argyle took the lead.

There seemed little danger as Conneely went to shepherd the ball out inside his own box but as the Irishman dawdled Lewis Alessandra pounced, stealing possession and smashing a shot beyond Davies into the top corner from an acute angle.

It could have been worse had any player in green been able to contact with Lee’s venomous cross as Argyle led 1-0 at the break.

The home team started the second half well, with Reuben Reid heading wide and Nicky Hunt forced to block Alessandra’s cross before Curtis Nelson was thwarted.

Soon Stanley’s threat on the break was apparent again but too often things broke down in the final third as Gornell headed over and Windass shot wide.

On loan Fleetwood goalkeeper Davies was brought in for his experience and that soon proved to be crucial. The 27-year-old made two terrific saves in three minutes from Reid, first at his near post and then with his legs, before pushing out a header from Carl McHugh.

Their keeper’s heroics seemed to spur Stanley on and after Gornell had been left bloodied by Hartley’s flailing arm they began to pile on the pressure.

Hunt was denied a first Stanley goal by McHugh’s block and the home side repelled a series of corners before the Reds conjured one last chance. Again Windass was involved, bursting down the left and into the area. With three team-mates waiting in the centre the former Huddersfield man elected to take it on himself, and smashed his effort well over the bar.

His manager’s demeanour at the miss was about as gloomy as that of the smattering of supporters who had made the trip and must now wonder where the next win is coming from.