ACCRINGTON Stanley boss John Coleman hopes it is 'written in the stars' that his side go and win promotion at Wembley after Saturday's final day heartache.

A win over Stevenage in front of a record crowd at the Wham Stadium would have seen Stanley promoted to League One but the Reds were held to a 0-0 draw.

And that allowed both Oxford United and Bristol Rovers - who scored a 92nd minute winner - to climb above Coleman's side and leave Stanley in fourth place, missing out on the top three on goal difference.

The Reds now face a play-off semi-final against AFC Wimbledon and a potential Bank Holiday Monday date at Wembley in the final.

And Coleman is hoping his squad can pick themselves up from the weekend woe and reach the national stadium for the first time in the club's history.

The Reds boss said: "We have got a good group of players, they are hurting at the moment and they will probably need an arm round them on Monday but we have to come up with a plan to give us the best chance of qualifying for Wembley.

"For a club of this magnitude never to have been at Wembley maybe it is written in the stars, maybe it is fate."

Stanley finished the season unbeaten in 12 games but despite hitting the woodwork three times on Saturday could not find a way past a resolute Stevenage and drew a blank for the first time at home in the league this season, something not lost on Coleman.

He added: "The sickening thing is that is the first time we haven't scored at home this season and for it to be in the biggest game in the club's history, that is the hard thing to take.

"I am still scratching my head thinking how Shay McCartan's header has hit the bar.

"It is very difficult to be too hard on the players because we have 85 points which two or three years ago would have won you the league.

"Football is a funny game and it can be a cruel mistress, we experienced highs last week and we experienced lows on Saturday.

"I am hurting but on Monday we will be bright and bubbly and formulate a plan to try and deal with Wimbledon.

"They have had a fantastic end to the season and it is going to be tough but everything we do in life at Accrington seems to be tough, we never do things the easy way."

Coleman, who paid tribute to Oxford United and Bristol Rovers on their success, admitted after the game he was worried that too many people felt his side were already assured promotion before kick off adding: "I think too much was made of it this week about us already being up. My biggest fears came home to roost.

"I knew Stevenage would be difficult to break down but I didn't think they would play as defensively as we did.

"We have created chances and hit the woodwork three times.

"We never let our guard down. Our keeper hasn't made a save and I just wish we would have worked their keeper a bit more. That was disappointing.

"And it is no-ones fault but the pitch has absolutely killed us and it wasn't conducive to the way we want to play. If it had rained I think we would have had a chance and that it is not making excuses.

"We couldn't pass the ball, every pass was taking three touches to control.

"But we have to go again."