JAMES Beattie expressed his pride after Accrington Stanley recorded their sixth win in their last nine away matches.

Substitute Kal Naismith’s goal gave the Reds a 1-0 win at Torquay United on Saturday to move them eight points clear of the Gulls, who sit second bottom of the table.

Beattie said: “I’m delighted for the boys. I’m really proud of them. They make me smile.

“Our away form is quite good at the moment and it’s just down to the lads doing things right. Even if the game had been 0-0, I would still have had a huge amount of praise for the boys.

“We’ve had some great away performances.

“You come to an away ground, try to get a good start and get a foothold in the game, and you grow into the game.

That’s what we did and it’s another clean sheet.”

Stanley have remained in the south ahead of tomorrow’s league match against Portsmouth at Fratton Park.

Naismith’s winner at Torquay was the former Rangers youngster’s eighth of the season, on his return from a hip injury.

Beattie said: “Kal came on with fresh legs, having had a week off.

“He’s come on and shown a touch of class to break the deadlock. Kal’s a big talent and I saw that when I was up at Rangers with him, that’s why I tried so hard to get him to Accrington.”