JOHN Coleman admits Accrington Stanley are facing a defensive injury crisis as they seek to return to winning ways against Dagenham and Redbridge tomorrow.

Coleman had just two fully fit defenders to work with in training yesterday with Dean Winnard out of action after coming off at half-time in Tuesday’s demoralising 4-3 defeat to AFC Wimbledon.

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Gerardo Bruna finished that game playing left-back and Coleman admits he will have to put square pegs in round holes again tomorrow for the visit of a Dagenham side who are without a win in eight league games.

“We’ve got an injury crisis, there’s no getting away from that, and unfortunately everyone who gets injured seems to be a defender,” said Coleman.

“We’ll patch ourselves up and see what we’ve got to go with. It makes working with them to prepare for Saturday very difficult, you might not be working with the players who end up playing, but that’s the nature of the game and the trials and tribulations you have to go through, that’s what makes it so special.

“It’s not ideal, but other players might have to slot in and be prepared to step up to the task on Saturday.”

Coleman also has to lift some of his players, with Terry Gornell withdrawn at half-time, when the score was 3-3 on Tuesday, and Andrew Procter coming on at half-time only to be replaced himself eight minutes from time.

“They’re experienced players and they know it’s nothing personal,” he said. “There’s no malice in it, we’re just trying to win the game.

“In reflection it was probably an error on my part to take Terry off, I thought the game was too open and I should have left it like that and just hoped we scored more than them.

“I handed them the initiative, that’s something I’ve got to learn from.”

Coleman was downbeat immediately after his side’s reversal against Wimbledon, and having watched the game again since he saw no more positives to take.

The manager had been delighted with the way his team had performed in defeat at league leaders Plymouth on Saturday, but they have now lost two games in a row for the first time this season.

“I spoke to their manager in the office afterwards and I equated it to sitting on Nijinsky one minute, then you get off Nijinsky and get on to Steptoe’s horse. That’s what it was. That’s how poles apart we were from Saturday.

“We went from turning in one of the best displays we’ve had when I’ve been Accrington manager to in the second half the most abject display I’ve ever seen from an Accrington team.

“I haven’t sent them out to play like that, the players haven’t set out to play like that, it’s just transpired and that’s something we’ve got to be mindful of.”

Stanley can put things right in front of their own fans at the Wham Stadium tomorrow, and although their results have been better on the road this term, Coleman wants to avoid a repeat of Tuesday as he battles to bring the crowds back in.

“It’s hard enough to attract the punters as it is and again it’s pitiful for the town that they’re not supporting the superb team we’ve got,” he said. “I know we didn’t play superbly but in the main we’ve been excellent this season.

“We’ve got better results away from home but we’ve turned in some good performances at home as well and I’m sure we’re capable of doing so again.”