ACCRINGTON Stanley boss John Coleman admits he was delighted to see his side chalk up their first three points of the season in the 1-0 midweek win over Mansfield Town.

The Reds had to wait 12 games to register a first victory in the 2013-14 season and their slow start extended into September last time around after four defeats and a draw in their first five games.

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So Sean McConville’s first half winner which lifted Stanley into the top half of the table ahead of Saturday’s trip to Notts County was a welcome boost for the Reds.

“You don’t want to go too many games without winning at the start of the season because the pressure builds and people get edgy,” said Coleman.

“We got through the adversity of the first 25 minutes when they were very much the better side and scored very much against the run of play.

“I was really pleased with the second half performance.”

Coleman acknowledged his side had been below par in the opening period, but was pleased with the way his side saw the game out once McConville had struck.

“It certainly wasn’t pretty in the first half, it was a horror show in the first half,” said the Stanley boss.

“But in the second half I thought it was pretty. We should have scored more goals, but we played with an energy and we played with a determination.”

Coleman also revealed he was contemplating replacing McConville during the opening half an hour as Stanley struggled to gain a foothold.

“Sean will always get goals,” Coleman added. “The irony is he was close to getting subbed, after 25 minutes – he was having a horror show and he was not the only one.

“We were thinking ‘this isn’t working’ but after the goal he was a threat all night.”