JOHN Coleman is targeting an assault on the automatic promotion positions in League Two as Accrington Stanley begin a run of seven home games in their next 10 fixtures.

Stanley are ninth in the league but they have as many as four games in hand on the teams above them.

And of their 20 remaining fixtures 12 are at the Wham Stadium, with all their postponements this season coming at home.

Games in hand against Carlisle, Notts County, Portsmouth and Wycombe are scheduled before mid-March, with their next 10 league fixtures coming in the space of 32 days.

And although seven may be at home, Coleman knows the pressure will be on.

"People equate games in hand to wins and it just doesn’t follow, it never will," said the Reds boss. "Sometimes they can be a hindrance.

"We’ve got to get back into the play-off spots as quickly as we can, and then we’ve got to make an assault on the automatic positions. That’s our aim and what we’re going to try to achieve.

"We’ve got to win games to do that. The more wins on the board the better it is."

They begin their busy month with a home clash against Crawley, for which Stanley are strong favourites, having taken eight more points from four less games this season.

"We’re expected to win on Saturday so that brings it’s own added pressure," said Coleman.

"If you think about it three or four years ago Crawley would be long odds-on to beat Accrington so times are changing.

"Every game we play now is going to be difficult for it’s own reasons and our players have to learn to cope with the pressure."

Stanley have only won six of their 11 home games this term, although their form in front of their own fans has improved.

They have won both of their home games in 2016 and have won four and drawn one of their last five at home in all competitions.

But Coleman is aware supporters may have their own problems in getting to games to back his side with seven home games in 32 days.

"The problem you have with a lot of home games in such a short space of time is finance for the fans," he said.

"As much as we want people through the gate, we’re pretty much still in a recession and people have priorities of what they can spend the money on.

"When you’re asking them to spend their money on us once a week it’s maybe not too bad but when you're asking them to spend money three times in a week it’s a different kettle of fish.

"All I can hope is that we produce the quality of performance that makes it value for money. At home we’ve done that."