ACCRINGTON Stanley manager John Coleman has played down any potential rivalry with Tuesday night's opponents Luton Town as the Reds aim to keep pace with the leading League One contenders.

Stanley and Luton came up from the fourth tier together last season, the Reds beating the Hatters to the title by five points, helped by a key 2-1 success at Kenilworth Road in March courtesy of a last-gasp Billy Kee winner which prompted exuberant celebrations from the visiting players, staff and supporters.

“I have never found myself in the middle of the pitch in the last minute of a game, I don’t know what came over me!” said the Stanley chief recalling the contest. “That was the goal and the moment that defined our season.”

Despite Coleman’s side claiming the title, Luton boss Nathan Jones felt his team were the best in the division, saying in April: “Accrington have done something wonderful but over the season I’d struggle to find a better side than us in how we’ve played and how we’ve gone about our job.”

That, coupled with the manner of Stanley’s success last term - the last time Luton, currently seventh, were beaten on their own turf - has added extra spice ahead of the clash with many, but not the Reds chief.

“Not from my part,” Coleman said. “Maybe from their part, the fact that they thought they should have won the league and they didn’t.

“We’ve got nothing to fear, but that doesn’t mean that we don’t respect them.

“They are a good side, a strong side and they have good players and they had good players last season and they were the second best side in the league so you have to respect that.

“They have a good manager who is forward thinking and they have got the finances to really kick on and be a big club and they could conceivably do well in the Championship with the money that the Championship could bring and the way they could increase their fanbase.”

Asked if Jones’ comments from the spring still rankle in the Stanley camp, Coleman added: “I admire the manger for having those thoughts. I have often thought that we were better than what our league position suggested.

“I admire the manager for valuing his players so highly and I think he is right to say that if he believes it.”