John Coleman was pleased with the way his side responded to their defensive dressing down as they claimed a point on the road at high-flying Wycombe Wanderers.

Stanley drew 1-1 at Adam Park, denied all three points by a second half penalty after Dion Charles had opened the scoring.

Having conceded three goals in games against Sunderland and Bristol Rovers prior to the Wycombe trip, Coleman was pleased with the response of his back four, and ‘keeper Dimi Evtimov, to claim a sixth point of the season.

The Reds boss saw his side lead through Charles’ header from a fine Jordan Clark run and cross, only to be pegged back by a Nick Freeman penalty 18 minutes from time after Seamus Conneely’s penalised for a foul in the box.

“I think the words dubious and penalty go hand in hand with Accrington at the minute,” Coleman said.

“Our captain wins the ball. Then the referee runs in to one of our players and he books him for putting his hands on him trying to protect himself.

“It never ceases to amaze you, but that’s football.

“Ross and Mark were excellent. There were a lot of harsh words said after the weekend and the lads responded really well.

“He (Evtimov) commanded his box, and apart from the penalty he hasn’t had a save to make and that’s testament to how well we’ve defended.

“We’re disappointed that we didn’t hurt them as much in the second half as we did the first.

“We still had a couple of chances, but I felt we were wasteful in possession in their half and ultimately I think that’s what cost us two points.”

Adebayo Akinfenwa was sent on in the second half as Wanderers looked to find an equaliser after Charles’ 40th minute opener.

The 37-year-old proved to be a real handful, but Coleman was pleased with the way his defenders stood up to the task.

He told the club website: “What I am pleased with is how resolute we were.

“The physical presence they had when they put on Akinfenwa but you’re in the lap of the gods with the referee on how he deals with that kind of player.

“They can give fouls for them, or against them, and he’s probably every referee’s nightmare because he’s a very good footballer, he brings the ball down well and how uses his body and how legitimate that is, it’s difficult to call.

“I feel sorry for referee’s, he’s a good player, he makes it difficult, but we handled him well, and he didn’t give us that much of a problem.”

Stanley had their chances after the break, but not with the same regularity as the opening 45 minutes.

Wycombe had lost just one of their opening eight games, that coming against Gillingham last weekend, and trailing at the break, Coleman always expected a second half response from the hosts.

He added: “We expected Wycombe to come out second half and have a go.

“We stood up to them really well, defended really well.

“We had chances ourselves, Sean McConville has hit the post and hit one straight at the keeper and you wouldn’t want anyone but Sean in those positions.

“The first one where he hits the post, he scores them in his sleep.

“I never have been content with a point, it will only be a good point if we win at home on Saturday.

“There will be lots of teams that come here and don’t get a point so we have to take that.”