STANLEY boss John Coleman says luck played a part in his side’s clean sheet against Barnet last weekend – but it’s about time it did!

The Reds head to Exeter this afternoon on the back of a five-game unbeaten run and a 1-0 victory over the Bees last weekend.

Shay McCartan’s free-kick put Coleman’s side in front and they held out for a win despite a few late scares.

But while Coleman admitted they got the rub of the green at times, he highlighted how that wasn’t the case earlier in the season.

He said: “Barnet upped their game late on and we had to throw our bodies in the way a few times.

“What can’t be underestimated is luck.

“They got a chance right at the death, their lad has hit it but Matty (Pearson) has got back and kneed it over the bar.

“Two months ago they are going in, you’re drawing the game 1-1 and you’re scratching your head thinking, ‘Why?’.

“That’s happened to us three of four times already this season. That bit of luck, you can’t underestimate it.”

The Accrington manager also highlighted the improvement of on-loan goalkeeper Marek Rodak, who has been an ever-present since arriving from Fulham in January.

“He’s getting a bit more confident and he’s undoubtedly a very, very good shot-stopper,” said Coleman.

“The save he made in the first minute at Portsmouth is as good as you’ll see, but he still needs to work on his communication and his presence.

“He’s started taking crosses now and when you do that you take a lot of pressure off your defence, and means you don’t have to defend the second and third phase.

“That’s been something that has helped us.”

Stanley welcome back Omar Beckles from a three-match suspension today, and the centre-half should go straight back into the team alongside Mark Hughes.

But Coleman says no-one is guaranteed a starting spot.

“It’s a great boost to get Omar back, and to go through his suspension unbeaten has been an achievement for the lads who have gone out there and done it,” he said.

“You need competition for places. When your team is picking itself week in, week out it can be a good and a bad thing.

“Sometimes you change the team completely; sometimes you go for a spell with the same team and try to get some momentum going.

“It’s all part and parcel of it in League Two.”