ACCRINGTON Stanley manager John Coleman felt his players missed a big opportunity after they crashed out of the Checkatrade Trophy to Bury.

The Reds were 2-0 up at half time on Tuesday night thanks to goals from Jordan Clark and Billy Kee, but the League Two side bounced back in the second half to win 4-2.

Coleman was frustrated with the way Stanley played after the break and admitted the Shakers were the better side.

He said: "They are a good League Two but they’re a League Two side. When you're 2-0 we should have enough about us to see it out.

"As it was, they were just better than us and sometimes you have to hold your hands up and say they were. We got a little bit disorganised and we paid the price for it.

"We’ve got to be better and use that as a motivation to improve and make sure it doesn’t happen again.

"That’s the second time in three games that we’ve conceded four goals at home and that doesn’t happen very often.

"We’ve just got to be better and realise that when we’re playing against a system that’s different to ours, we’ve got to adapt to it.

"We didn’t ask enough questions in the second half, we did make a couple of really good chances that we didn’t take, but we’re miles better than what we’ve shown in the second half."

The Reds have struggled for clean sheets in League One this season and shipped four to Peterborough United last month.

The defensive frailties are something Coleman is keen to address.

"It is a concern, it’s always a concern when you concede four goals," he added.

"They were quicker than us, sharper than us and moved the ball better than we did.

"They got what they deserved which was a win. Us being 2-0 up at half time was possibly a little harsh on them. Having said that, we were very clinical.

"We got bodies in behind the ball and we countered on them well. It was a good performance in the first half and I don’t know where that went to in the second half.

"I don’t know whether they upped their game, or we dropped. Maybe it was a bit of both."