ACCRINGTON STANLEY swept aside lowly Billingham Town but manager John Coleman was not impressed.

The Reds are in today's Third Qualifying Round draw after a 2-0 win but Coleman said it was a disappointing display from his title chasers.

Stanley are top of the UniBond Premier League after nine wins and two draws this season.

Win number 10 arrived as expected in the FA Cup against lowly Billingham of the Northern League - two levels below Stanley on the non-League pyramid.

But Coleman was unhappy with the performance.

"It wasn't really as easy as it looked," he said. "We didn't play particularly well, it was a drab game really.

"We found it hard to lift ourselves and they came here and did okay.

"They missed a couple of chances, and so did we."

An average performance may have been enough to sweep aside Billingham, but more will be needed on Wednesday night when second-in-the-table Burscough visit the Crown Ground.

Coleman had four influential players out - Peter Cavanagh, Russell Payne, Mark Brennan and Mike Marsh - but felt the team he put out should have been able to do the business.

"We have got to improve when we play better teams. It wasn't just Saturday, it has been the last two or three games and we need to sort it," he said. "It wasn't anything in particular against Billingham, we just looked lethargic."

After winning their first nine games, Stanley drew the next two and need to get back to winning ways in the league against Burscough on Wednesday.

They are currently seven points clear and that lead could either be cut to four, or stretched to a massive 10 on Wednesday night.

"Obviously we are hoping we can have this little bad spell and it not be too damaging. But we know we will go through the season and have these patches."

A Paul Mullin header and a Lutel James penalty disposed of Billingham.

Mullin broke the deadlock just before the break, converting a Steve Flitcroft free kick for his seventh goal of the season.

And on the hour mark James was brought down in the box and the referee pointed to the penalty spot. James himself stepped up to put it away.

"It can be difficult to raise yourself for games like this but it was another decent crowd, about 700, and we should be going out with the mentality that we are going to win every game," said Coleman.

"We have got a big squad and we need to adapt when we have injuries. We need to improve against Burscough. It is going to be a massive game."

ACCRINGTON STANLEY...2

BILLINGHAM TOWN...0