ACCRINGTON Stanley boss John Coleman was pleased with his side's Checkatrade Trophy display as they booked their place in Friday night's second round draw.

The Reds swept aside Wigan Athletic with a 4-0 victory at the DW Stadium on Tuesday night to secure a spot in the knockout stages.

And Coleman, who gave a number of his fringe players starts, was delighted to qualify as runners-up in Group B behind Blackpool.

"I thought it was a good professional performance," he said.

"We have played a similar team in the three games in this competition and we have done well in the other games. I know we lost to Blackpool but we should never have lost that one - that was possibly our best performance of the three.

"We can't govern what Wigan did, I know they played young lads and blooded their youth team players but we can only beat what is in front of us and I was pleased with the way we controlled the game and I am pleased with the clean sheet."

The Checkatrade Trophy have been much maligned but the Stanley boss believes it has its advantages for his fringe players as he balances progress with a League Two promotion push.

He added: "This competition is good for our (fringe) players because when we are doing well they can lose heart a little bit because everyone knows I don't like tinkering with the team and this puts them in the shop window and if you take your chance then you stay in.

"It is a great opportunity to get games into lads and get them ready for when they are called upon."

Stanley will face either Scunthorpe United, Lincoln City, Bradford City or Walsall in the knockout stages given the structure of the competition where the northern runners-up in Groups A,B,C or D will face one of the winners of groups E,F,G or H.

The draw for the second round takes place on Friday at Wembley at 6.30pm. The ties are due to take place the week beginning December 4.