JOHN Coleman has labelled tonight’s showdown with Bury as Accrington Stanley’s “most important game of the season” - including their FA Cup replay with Yeovil Town.

Stanley came within 90 minutes of a lucrative third round tie with Manchester United, but were unable to get past the Glovers in the end.

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Yet Coleman believes tonight’s game at the Store First Stadium is even more significant for the football club than any potential meeting with Premier League giants, as they bid to cement their top seven credentials.

“It’s by far the biggest game for me; bigger than the Yeovil game,” said the Stanley boss.

“It won’t make or break us but it gives us a great chance to let everybody know that we’re genuine play-off contenders and if we do win we’re on the cusp of the play-offs with a game in hand after the weekend.”

Coming from behind to secure a last-minute win at Exeter City has thrown Stanley into the top seven picture at the halfway stage of the season.

“That was another watershed game. Jimmy (Bell) was hammering that home to the lads all week, how important it was,” said Coleman.

“Whenever you’re playing a team above you, we’ve got to be looking at taking maximum points.”

Coleman is keen to steal a march on their rivals through Friday night football - an opportunity they missed the last time, in their previous meeting with Exeter.

“Last time we had it on a Friday night we said it was like a golfer going to the green and we put ours in the bunker. We’ve got to hit the green this time,” said the Stanley boss.

Andy Procter is another man looking forward to the clash, for what will be his first meeting with his old club.

The midfielder left in acrimonious circumstances earlier this season to return to the Reds for a second spell, having been left out of the first team picture by Bury boss David Flitcroft.

“You’ve got to be careful he doesn’t use too much nervous energy,” said Coleman. “I’ve had it myself playing old clubs in the past.

“Hopefully Proc won’t have the same thing. He’s a great kid and you’ve got to use him the way we know how to use him. Managers that have had him since probably haven’t had the insight that I’ve had over a long period of time.”

But Coleman does not believe Procter has a point to prove.

“The two clubs he went to after Accrington, he captained both of them,” he said. “He’s got nothing to prove to anybody.”