BRAD Halliday is backing Stanley to be slap bang in the promotion mix come the end of the season.

They remain outside the top three only on goal difference following Saturday’s 1-1 home draw against Cambridge United.

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Full-back Halliday, on loan from Middlesbrough for the rest of the season, was the pick of the Stanley players against the U’s.

And the 20-year-old is confident that a collective effort will see the club seal an automatic spot, starting with Saturday’s trip to Luton.

He said: “It’s going to be a battle, but we hope, come May, that it’s us in third place.

“At the minute we just have to perform as well as we can in every game. We believe we can do it.”

Stanley’s run-in features six games, three of which are at home, and Halliday insists the Wham Stadium is vital to putting a decent run together.

He added: “As players, staff, management and fans we just need to push forward together.

“Every home game in particular is an opportunity. The fans have been great and really helped us get results and, hopefully, they can continue doing that.”

Fellow loanee Tariqe Fosu experienced the love of the Stanley faithful when he netted on his home debut against Cambridge.

The Reading winger took just 11 minutes to find the back of the net after being introduced as a substitute by John Coleman in the 66th minute. And he thinks the point his strike earned could be crucial, with just two points separating Oxford in second and Stanley in fifth.

Fosu said: “I was over the moon to get my first goal for the club in my first home game, but I am disappointed we didn’t get all three points.

“I am buzzing and the lads are buzzing as it could be a crucial point at the end of the season.”

The 20-year-old added: “When I came on the gaffer told me to change the game and do my bit.

“Scott Brown played the ball through and I did have time to think about it, but I slotted it home and there is no better feeling.”

Halliday was also full of praise for the new goal hero.

He said: “The management had tough decisions to make and decided to make the change.

“Tariqe came on and got his goal, so full credit to him.

“Towards the end we were a bit relieved because at least we’d gained a point and it was hard to come back from 1-0 down, but I think we could have taken all three.

“The goal we conceded was a sloppy one and we have to iron out those mistakes in future.

“I think we started the first half quite lively and created a few good chances and pinned them back, but then we took our foot off the gas a bit and let them come back into it.

“At 0-0 at half-time it was a bit disappointing, but we didn’t start the second half well and they took the early lead.

“We did well to get back in it in the end.”