ACCRINGTON Stanley boss John Coleman hopes his side can ease their early season blues with a morale-boosting home victory over Notts County tomorrow.

With an ever-growing casualty list, lengthened by a groin injury to Leam Richardson, and three away defeats on the bounce, Stanley could do with some good news.

But after an impressive display, and ultimately three points in their last game at the Fraser Eagle Stadium against Macclesfield last month, Coleman is keen to maintain their home form.

Stanley’s home ground used to be a fortess, but the Reds managed just seven wins on home turf last season, and Coleman is keen to improve on that if his side are to challenge the League Two play-off places this season.

He said: “We’ve got to carry it on from the Macclesfield game, that’s for sure. We’ve got to carry on the enthusiasm and the nature of the way we played – that could be the key for us in the fixtures to come.

“It was not so much the win – although the three points were paramount – but it was getting back to playing well at home and that’s something that has eluded us for a while.

“I didn’t want to go through a season waiting for that game but now we know what we can do and how to do it.

“We’re always working on things, but the main thing is defending as a team. I thought we were poor defensively against Exeter for the full 90 minutes and that’s something we’ve been working on this week.

“I think we’ve made a giant stride defensively this season and I don’t want us to slip back into the mode we were in last season when we were sloppy and gave a lot of chances up.”

But if Stanley are to build on their last home game, they’re going to have to make a little bit of history.

In their last four meetings, Stanley are yet to register a single point – although the former incarnation of Accrington Stanley did manage a 3-0 win back in 1958.

And Coleman knows Ian McParland’s side will be a tough nut to crack.

He said: “We haven’t won against them. Four games and nil points. The law of averages dictates that we have to get a point sooner or later.

“From their record so far this season, it looks like they like drawing.

"They’re a difficult side to beat and they’re hard to break down.

“I watched them when they played Wigan a couple of weeks ago so I know a little bit about them. I know their style of play and I’ll have my notes for tomorrow.”