9:39am Tuesday 9th March 2010
By Matt Donlan
JOHN Coleman will tell his Accrington Stanley players to take the few positives from Saturday’s shocker against Notts County into their League Two game against Macclesfield Town at tonight.
But the manager knows it will be a real battle on two counts at the Crown Ground as his Reds aim to lift themselves from the depression created by Saturday’s miserable loss to Steve Cotterill’s Magpies.
Coleman admits he will have to work hard to lift flagging spirits – but is also aware that emotion could well play its part as Macc play just their second game since the death of their popular manager Keith Alexander, pictured, last week.
The Macc lads fought through adversity to beat Hereford at Edgar Street on Saturday and Coleman knows tonight will be another night charged with emotion.
“I am still reeling from Keith’s death to be honest,” said Coleman.
“It was a terrible shock for everyone in the game and puts football into perspective.
“Football is certainly the loser with Keith’s death.
“It is easy to speak well when people have died but Keith was a great man, a great football man and it is really sad.”
But as much as Coleman wants to pay respect to his former touchline rival, he knows it is vital Stanley bounce back from the loss to Notts County.
Stanley were shocking as they slumped to the Magpies on Saturday and the manager admits it will be an effort to lift his men.
“We need to take the positives from Saturday into the Macclesfield game,” said Coleman.
“It is going to be difficult to pick the players up but we have to try.
“We played well in the first half against County and we need to remember that and not dwell on the second half.
“It’s going to be a tough game and Macc will want to win again for Keith – but we need to get back to our best and look for three points.”
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