JOHN Coleman believes there is plenty of work for his Stanley players to do if they are to be a force in League Two this season.

The Reds drew 3-3 with an Everton Under-23 side at the Wham Stadium on Saturday and the Stanley chief was less than impressed with what he saw from his squad.

Coleman has cancelled a planned day off this week as a result of what he labelled a 'disappointing' display and is keen to see his side record their first win of the summer when Championship neighbours Preston North End visit on Wednesday night (7.30pm).

"I am very disappointed and there is a lot of work to do on the training ground and the players have been left in no uncertain terms that that is not acceptable," said Coleman after the Everton draw.

"It has cost the players one day off and it would have been two if we had lost the game.

"We want to be successful this season and we are not going to be successful conceding three goals for a start, and also not seeing the appetite that I want to see."

Stanley took the lead at the Wham Stadium only to concede twice in the closing stages of the first half to trail 2-1 at the break. The Reds responded and went 3-2 up before Everton levelled and ensured it was honours even.

And Accrington's inability to convert their lead into a victory left Coleman frustrated.

"We controlled the game for 40 minutes and we didn't show a hunger to go and close the game out and win the game," the Reds boss told the club's official website.

"From being very comfortable at 1-0 and coasting, we go in at 2-1 down at half time through lapses in concentration and bad defending.

"I thought we were ambling through the game in the first half.

"Then we get ourselves back in to the lead and we threw another stupid goal away."

Coleman is now keen to see his side register a pre-season victory against North End, with Stanley suffering a 1-0 defeat to Huddersfield in their summer opener last week.

He added: "You have to start winning games, but that is two games we should have won comfortably and we haven't. You can't say that is unlucky because it keeps happening so there must be a flaw and we have to address that flaw."

The Everton game saw new signing Ben Richards-Everton start in the centre of defence having featured as a trialist against the Terriers and Coleman believes the 25-year-old will prove to be a key member of the Stanley squad.

"He is physically strong, decent in the air and a left peg that can help us get out of situations," Coleman said of the former Dunfermline man. "

"I am sure he will be a good signing. We definitely needed a defender and we have the young lads as back up so we are quite strong in that area."