ACCRINGTON Stanley boss John Coleman is desperate for his side to start showing improvements in Saturday's League Two trip to Carlisle to avoid becoming 'a team of losers.'

The Reds were beaten 3-0 at home by Crewe in their CHeckatrade Trophy opener on Tuesday night meaning it is three losses in the Reds' last four games.

And Coleman has heaped the pressure on his side ahead of the trip to Cumbria on Saturday.

He said: "If we are not careful we will become a team of losers and we will become a soft touch.

We need to get ourselves prepared to be mentally right as well as physically right for a massive game on Saturday.

"There was nothing in the game in the first half. Second half we did exactly what we did on Saturday and gifted them a goal after two minutes when we had the ball on the edge of their box. It is painful to watch sometimes.

"We are taking the extra touch when we don't need to, we are not putting the ball in the box when we should, we are not shooting when we should and we are not defending properly."

Coleman did take one positive from the match with with the performance of young defender Ross Sykes, making his first team debut at 17, catching the eye.

"He was the best player on the pitch for me and he didn't deserve to be on the losing team," said the Reds boss.

"He will only get better, we have got high hopes for Ross.

"We put a team out that can be competitive and these lads can play in the first team and most of the have. Ironically probably our best player was Ross who hasn't played in the first team."

Coleman also handed a debut to left back Rory McKeown who has joined on non-contract terms after leaving Scottish Championship club Raith Rovers.

The 23-year-old started his career with Ipswich and has also played for Kilmarnock and Cowdenbeath north of the border.

The Reds boss was satisfied with the performance of his new full back.

"It was a re-jigged defence and I thought he did well first half but in the second half his lack of physical fitness told," Coleman added.