IN-FORM midfielder Sean McConville believes that Accrington Stanley have learned from last season’s failed promotion push and will not allow complacency to ruin their play-off hopes this time around.

Stanley are currently the form team in League Two after six wins from their last eight matches, which have propelled them to 11th in the table – three points behind the final play-off place with two games in hand.

After winning 3-0 at home to Port Vale on Saturday, one of those games in hand takes place tonight as they face another promotion rival – with Dario Gradi’s Crewe currently a point behind them in the table.

But McConville remembers all too well that Stanley were in a similar position at this stage last season, only to finish 15th.

“Saturday was a great victory and that’s six out of eight now,” said the 22-year-old.

“If we keep this going, we can make the play-offs definitely.

“But we need to guard against complacency because we all remember last year. We got to the stage last season where we were a place outside the play-offs with a couple of games in hand and then we took one point out of nine games. We’re wary of that.

“It was a bit of complacency but it was hard to put your finger on, we had a few bad results. We were good against the top teams but we struggled against the lesser teams. But this year when Stockport and Burton came here we put them to the sword.

“We never got into the top seven last season and that’s definitely what we want to do this time.

“If we cement ourselves in there then not only will we be looking at the play-offs but with the form we’re in, we can look even higher. Crewe is another cup final for us.”

McConville set himself a target of 10 goals this season and reached that target at the weekend.

“To get to 10 goals is brilliant,” he said. “I underachieved last season but this season I’ve kicked on.

"Mainly I think it’s down to the new formation, it has given me licence to roam. I’ll set another target of maybe 14 now.”