ACCRINGTON Stanley finally moved into the play-off places in midweek, but manager John Coleman knows that the hard work still lies ahead if they are to secure a dream promotion to League One in May.

Stanley have never previously occupied a top seven spot at the business end of a League Two campaign and they can move level on points with the automatic promotion places with victory at out-of-form Macclesfield tonight.

Coleman, who will find out this morning whether he has won League Two’s manager of the month award, looks certain to continue his record of season-on-season improvement ever since taking charge at the Crown Ground 12 years ago after surpassing last term’s points tally with Tuesday’s win over Southend.

They only finished 15th a year ago after their play-off push faded.

The Stanley boss believes their current standing in the table is no more than they deserve but knows his side’s seven-match unbeaten run must continue if they are to maintain that position.

“I thought we were one of the best seven sides last season and we’ve improved since then,” said Coleman.

“We’ve passed up opportunities in the past to get into the play-offs and hopefully we’ll get it right between now and the end of the season. We’ll still need a lot more points to make that certain.

“What I can guarantee is we might not win every game but every team will know they’ve been in a game against us.

“The lads know what is expected of them and we shouldn’t have to be reminding them too much, and I don’t think we will have to, of what our next focus is – Macclesfield.”

Stanley play their fourth match in 10 days tonight, in a game brought forward by Macclesfield in a bid to boost the attendance, and Phil Edwards and Sean Hessey will hope to avoid a 10th booking of the season in the final fixture before the FA’s yellow card amnesty.

The centre back duo have been in fine form along with a number of others, with Coleman reserving praise for skipper Andy Procter.

“Proc has taken his game to another level,” said the boss.

“He thinks he’s unplayable at the moment. I don’t know whether that means I shouldn’t play him!

“There are a lot of people who could use our players as an example of how to fight in times of adversity and not moan too much about your lot, because you see some players on £60,000 or £70,000 a week and they’re not happy.”

Play-off rivals Torquay have 28 days to decide whether to appeal a one-point deduction for fielding an ineligible player, meaning the situation may not be resolved until the final week of the season.

The play-off final is at Old Trafford on Saturday, May 28 and the semi final second legs are currently set for Friday, May 20.

In the first leg, seventh are due to host fourth on Saturday, May 14 at 5.45pm with sixth at home to fifth on Sunday, May 15 at 6.30pm.