8:42am Monday 8th March 2010
By Matt Donlan
DISAPPOINTED Accrington Stanley boss John Coleman says his players must stay focused for the full 90 minutes if they are to avoid a repeat of Saturday’s dismal loss to Notts County.
The Reds were beaten 3-0 at the Crown Ground but Coleman insists that final scoreline was harsh.
“They scored a good goal for their third – but we could have defended it better,” said Coleman, who had seen his side fall behind when Ben Davies converted a rebound after Ian Dunbavin saved a Lee Hughes penalty.
Phil Edwards, who then gifted Hughes the second after the break, was adjudged to have tripped the County striker but Coleman said: “I didn’t think it was a penalty.
“I thought Phil got the ball and it went away from goal so it shows that he nicked it away. But after he’s given it I am glad he didn’t send Phil off – that would have added insult to injury.
“I was happy in the first half but disappointed with the way we let our heads drop when the second went in,” added Coleman.
“But if we can take any solace it is that we had the lion’s share of the play against one of the better sides in the division.
“We were good for 45 minutes and now we need to turn that into a full 90.
“We played well in the first half but we have to be able to overcome disappointment and we didn’t with the second goal.”
Ex-Burnley boss Steve Cotterill is now in charge of Notts County, who suffered the only home defeat of their League Two campaign so far against Stanley in December.
Many Burnley fans turned out to cheer Cotterill on Saturday and he says there will always be a place in his heart for the Clarets – and hopes Brian Laws can continue the ‘wonderful journey’ at Turf Moor.
Cotterill left in 2007 to be replaced by Owen Coyle, who then guided Burnley into the Premier League.
But many fans credit Cotterill with doing the groundwork that led to the promised land.
“It was terrific to see so many Burnley fans coming to see me and to support my team,” he said.
“It was lovely to see them in their Burnley colours and brought back memories of so many good days there, good days that I will never forget.
“Some Burnley fans said that I started them on the journey to the Premier League and it is really nice to get the recognition from them.
“There was three and a half years of really hard work put in at Burnley and I wish the club all the best and really hope sincerely that Brian Laws can keep them in the Premier League.
“They have been on a wonderful journey and they deserve that and I hope it can continue.”
“I thought it was a real tricky game,” Cotterill added about Saturday’s game.
“Accrington are a decent team and they will turn over a lot of teams, especially at the Crown Ground.”
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