ACCRINGTON Stanley manager Leam Richardson praised a team effort in dismantling high-flying Fleetwood Town.

New signing James Beattie grabbed the headlines with his first goal for three years.

But with George Miller and Rommy Boco also on the scoresheet in a 3-1 win, and former Blackburn Rovers, Southampton and Everton striker Beattie one of four changes to the team which drew at Barnet on Friday night, Richardson was adamant it was not a one-man show.

The Reds boss was particularly encouraged by the performances of Craig Lindfield and Toto Nsiala in their first starts for over a month, which has enhanced the competition for places among the squad.

“They’ve kept their fitness and come in against a Fleetwood side and didn’t look out of place, which they shouldn’t,” he said.

“Not only that but they’ve put a fantastic performance in individually to stay in the team.”

Of the overall performance, which kept the Reds improved run going under Richardson – they have lost just once in five games since he took charge – he added: “The scoreline tells you that at a place like Fleetwood the lads have conducted themselves fantastically well. Not only did we win but we played some very good football.

“I’m pleased with all aspects of our game because the home team is going to put you under some pressure, and when they did we coped with it very well.

“We made the lads aware as the home team they would start bright and we would have to match them, especially for the first 10-15 minutes. Luckily we got the penalty. Looking back to the other game, they say things even themselves out in football.”

Stanley were forced to settle for a point in their last outing, at Barnet, after the Underhill outfit equalised from a controversial twice-taken spot kick.

And Richardson was delighted with the response.

“We’ve gone from strength to strength,” said the Stanley boss, who had no doubt that Beattie would end his goal drought when he stepped up to take the ninth minute penalty, following Youl Mawene’s foul on Peter Murphy.

“Nobody is going to argue with James. He is a confident lad and it was a great penalty,” said Richardson, who admitted it would be wrong to read too much into Beattie’s previous goal statistics.

“Stats are sometimes false,” Richardson added. “You could see the quality he has got – he could easily have had three or four (goals). You can see the awareness, the cleverness and the pedigree has has got.

“He is fantastic. It kind of breeds through the team and I thought we were very strong.”