ACCRINGTON Stanley are up for the cup, despite it handing them a second trip of the season to League Two rivals Portsmouth.

The Reds were last there in early September, where a goalless draw against the title favourites proved to be the springboard to a four-game winning streak that propelled them up the table.

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Stanley sat fourth ahead of last weekend’s FA Cup first round clash with York City, level on points with third-placed Pompey, who have a better goal difference.

And after the two were drawn together in the second round, goalkeeper Jason Mooney believes John Coleman’s side will go back to Fratton Park in December in even better shape than two months ago.

“It’s a team we know, a team we have played recently and it’s a good stadium with a large crowd. When we played there in the league we drew 0-0 and I think we have improved since then,” the stopper told Stanley’s official website. “In some ways, you want to draw a team you don’t play regularly, but we have drawn Portsmouth and now we will prepare for that.

“They are in a similar league position to us so it should be a good game.”

The tie will have the additional edge of having former Stanley managers Paul Cook and Leam Richardson in the opposition dugout for the December 5 clash on the south coast.

And Mooney added: “The gaffer (John Coleman) obviously knows their management team well and some of their players and so he will know their ways and their tricks so we will go there and be positive.”

As well as Cook and Richardson, other ex-Stanley links include Portsmouth players Gary Roberts, Kal Naismith, Jayden Stockley and Conference-winning cult hero Rommy Boco.

“If we can go there, play like we did last time and nick a goal then that will suit us!” said Mooney, for whom the 0-0 draw last time was the first of four clean sheets this season.

New owner Andy Holt is also looking forward to the tie, despite the 550-mile round trip.

“I am happy with the draw,” said Stanley’s majority shareholder Andy Holt.

“We will go there with no fear and I do not see why we can’t beat them.”