ACCRINGTON Stanley manager John Coleman was disappointed that his team could only manage a 1-1 draw with relegation-threatened Cheltenham Town on Friday night.

The Robins, under new management after club legend Russell Milton replaced the sacked Paul Buckle, frustrated Stanley to earn a share of the spoils.

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Indeed, the visitors took the lead against the run of play at the Store First Stadium when Wes Burns beat goalkeeper Scott Davies to Matt Richards’ cross and headed into an open net.

But Shay McCartan equalised with his first touch after coming on as a substitute, steering a shot through the legs of visiting goalkeeper Trevor Carson from Piero Mingoia’s cross.

Despite dominating the game and having 60 per cent of possession, Stanley were unable to find a crucial second goal and were forced to settle for a point.

“It feels like a defeat to me,” Coleman said. “I’m probably more upset now than I was at any point during the five successive games we lost.

“Cheltenham have come with a game plan to get everyone behind the ball and make it difficult for us. They’re fighting for their lives but we had enough quality out there to win the game.

“In the end we’ve probably played well - we’ve certainly played worse - and had the lion’s share of the game but we’ve been unable to convert that into good chances and we wasted the opportunities we did have.”

The 52 year-old Reds chief was again left to rue a defensive lapse which cost his team, as it has on so many occasions this season.

He believes that, were it not for the large volume of individual errors that have blighted Stanley’s campaign, the club would be challenging for promotion to League One.

“I’ve never known a season where so many individual mistakes have cost us,” added Coleman.

“To concede the goal that we did is ludicrous. It’s like Keystone Cops again. From giving the corner away when there’s no danger, to conceding from another set play and goalkeeping error.

“If we cut out the individual mistakes this season we would win the league - that’s not me being churlish.

“But the teams who are going to get promoted don’t make as many mistakes as we do.

“The likes of Shrewsbury up at the top of the division would have beaten Cheltenham because they would have be more clinical and that’s what we’ve got to strive to be,” he added.

Coleman, in an attempt to win the game, ended the contest with Piero Mingoia and Kal Naismith - both naturally wingers - playing in the full-back positions and revealed afterwards that he considers the current crop of players to be the best he has had at the Crown Ground during his two spells in charge.

“We had six forwards on the pitch at the end and we didn’t get enough men into the box. Some of our crossing was excellent today but we didn’t get people on the end of them,” he added.

“I’ve had Accrington teams in the past who would have put four past Cheltenham in that game and yet I still firmly believe that this is one of the best squads I’ve had. We just can’t seem to get the best out of ourselves consistently.”