ACCRINGTON Stanley boss John Coleman insists last season's promotion heartache won't be a 'motivating factor' as his side prepare to end the season against Stevenage for a second successive campaign.

A year ago the Reds went into their final game against Boro knowing that victory would see them earn automatic promotion but they were held to a 0-0 draw and dropped into the play-offs, eventually losing in the semi-finals to AFC Wimbledon.

The shoe is on the other foot this weekend with Darren Sarll's men bidding to sneak into the top seven. Stevenage will begin the weekend in eighth, behind Blackpool on goal difference and just one point adrift of Carlisle.

But Coleman says revenge won't be on the Stanley players' minds.

"It won't be a motivating factor, not a chance," he said.

"I want to win the game and it doesn't matter who we are playing against.

"We couldn't expect Stevenage to come up to our place last year and roll over, they had a job to do and they did it.

"We want to win the game and it is three points for us and a chance to finish the season on a high and give the supporters hope for next year."

Last weekend Championship play-off certs Huddersfield made a host of alterations for the clash at relegation-threatened Birmingham and lost the game 2-0.

That led to the Football League writing to the Terriers to 'request their observations' on the selection.

And Coleman believes their is a fine line tread when your side can have a say in the final promotion and relegation shake-up.

He added: "If you believe you can alter your team and still win the game then that is fine, if you believe you are altering the team and you are weakening the chances of winning the game then I think that is unacceptable."

Regardless of Stevenage's position, Coleman is targeting a winning end to the campaign after back to back defeats ended any chance Stanley had of sneaking into the top seven.

Instead they will travel to Broadhall Way in 13th place, five points behind their opponents and the Wham Stadium boss is determined to finish on a high.

He added: "When you have been on the run like we have been on to then to lose two on the bounce is disappointing and we don't want to lose three on the bounce.

"We want to get back to winning ways and if we keep playing the way we did in the first half or the first 70 minutes of the last two games then we can do."