COLBY Bishop says his defensive duties are just as important as his goalscoring ones after Stanley stretched their unbeaten run to five games – all without conceding a goal.

Bishop scored the only goal of the game in Tuesday’s 1-0 win over Crewe as the Reds moved up to ninth place in League One, just a point outside the play-off places with games in hand.

Stanley have picked up three 1-0 victories in that run and the striker says that such is the team’s defensive strengths at the moment, one goal is all that it takes to clinch the three points.

“The main thing is the clean sheet sets us up for that so credit to Toby (Savin) and the lads at the back,” Bishop told the club website after Tuesday’s win.

“But I think it is the whole team in the way that we are defending.

“We are defending as a unit and it gives you the chance to win 1-0, you don’t have to score three or four goals and we are building that platform to do that. I know if we get one chance and I take it then I know we are probably going to win the game so it’s brilliant and the lads are doing really well and I hope it keeps going.”

Bishop and strike partner Dion Charles have been given the task of defending from the front and the pressing part of their game he says is important.

“It’s a unit, it starts from the front,” he added. “If we don’t do our job then it makes it harder for them so I think the lads at the back appreciate what we do as well.

“We all know what we are doing and it all fits in to place.

“Obviously it shows because of the results.”

Stanley have long been admired for their attractive style of play, which hasn’t always paid dividends, but the ability to mix things up is producing the results.

“You look at the goal at Swindon, the third one, (scored by Charles) and it was one of the best goals I’ve seen, great football,” said Bishop.

“But we can switch it up where you put it in the box and you get a knock down and you score.

“It’s like the gaffer says, winning is the main thing and it is about finding ways to do that and I think this year we have got a good mix of young lads and older lads who have the experience to do that.”