10:06am Monday 15th March 2010
DELIGHTED John Coleman lavished praise on his Accrington Stanley heroes as they battled back from a goal down with just 10 men to earn a win at Barnet.
The Reds, whose play-off hopes had been on the rocks after three League Two games without a win, came back to life in London.
But they made light on the sending-off of goalkeeper Ian Dunbavin in the first-half to battle back thanks to goals from Phil Edwards and strike star Billy Kee.
And the Underhill heroics saw Stanley clamber back into 12th spot in the table as the season reached fever pitch.
“I don’t think anyone can question their character all season to be honest,” said Coleman.
“They’ve been magnificent and worked hard, they’re enthusiastic and it hurts them when they get beaten.
“They reflect the way me and Jimmy think about football.”
Barnet were fuming with Stanley’s winner as they claimed Kee was yards offside when he finished to win the game.
But Coleman didn’t care about Barnet’s complaints and added: “I think on the balance of the whole game we deserved to win.
“We certainly made enough clear cut chances, but you just feel as though luck’s going to conspire against you again.
“Give the lads their due, they rolled their sleeves up and had a right good go in the second half and I think we were value for the win for the second half performance alone.
“After the first five minutes of the second half, when they were on top, I think we controlled it and deserved to get the goals.”
Barnet boss Ian Hendon was not happy with the result bit had plenty of praise for Stanley and said: “I’m disappointed with the result and the way that we played the second half.
“We said at half time that the game was there for us to lose, and we certainly did that.
“To be fair to Accrington they came out and passed the ball better than us with 10 men.”
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