SEAN McConville says Accrington Stanley are missing their '12th man' and cannot wait to get fans back into the Wham Stadium.

The Reds have enjoyed a good start to the season, with four wins from their opening seven League One games, and sit on the fringes of the play-off positions ahead of Saturday's visit of Bristol Rovers.

But McConville believes they could be even higher if they had the vocal Stanley Ultras behind them.

“Certainly with the fans that we get if they were here pushing us on we’d be higher than what we are," said the winger, who made his comeback from a 10-month injury absence in Tuesday night's 1-0 win over Fleetwood Town.

"The last 10 minutes of that game, that’s when Fleetwood were pushing us back, that’s where the fans step up and they make noise. When you get fouled they jeer at the ref as much as you do.

“The sooner they’re back the better."

The ongoing coronavirus pandemic means supporters must keep tabs on their team from home.

And McConville says their absence took the shine off his return from a long-term Achilles injury.

“That’s the only down side (having no fans in the ground)," said the 31-year-old, who instead received digital messages off support through the club and social media.

"To get so many messages off them and so many well wishes, I’ve got so many people to thank. I’d be standing here all day if I went through them all.

"But I’m happy the response was good and I’m happy to get the win for them."

McConville and co will hope to take confidence from overcoming a tough test from Joey Barton's Fleetwood to secure back to back home wins.

“In the first half I was obviously watching from the sidelines thinking they were the best side I’ve seen come to our ground, this season certainly," he said.

"They popped it about well and played well within their shape. They’ve got good players for the level and it was a surprise to come on and I was a bit nervous to be honest. I didn’t think you got nerves when you’re a bit more experienced but I was very nervous watching it and even more nervous when he (manager John Coleman) told me I was going on.

“It’s hard going on to get into the pace as quickly as you can, get your touch in, but I felt like I adapted quite well, got my touch in quite well and thought I got the last play in a little bit better than what we did in the first half."

He added: “Judging on the second half performance I felt chances wise we probably created more.

“Were we deserving winners? Maybe not, but we’ve been on the end of teams coming here and getting a result when they shouldn’t have so we’ll take that one and move on to Saturday."