PETER Cavanagh is keeping his fingers crossed that his toughest spell as Accrington captain is well and truly behind him.

The full back, whose leadership skills belie his tender 23 years, confessed that keeping his team-mates' spirits raised proved immensely difficult last month, when the Reds recorded only one Conference win and were knocked out of both the FA Cup and LDV Vans Trophy within the space of four days.

"It was tough keeping even myself motivated when you're going through a run like that," revealed Cavanagh.

"We weren't playing well, but we weren't getting the rub of the green either.

"Things weren't dropping for us but these things even themselves out of the course of a season, and I knew all along that it would only be a matter of time before we came out the other side of it."

The former Liverpool player was proved right as, after holding Exeter to a 0-0 draw at the Interlink Express Stadium, Stanley smashed five past struggling Northwich Victoria last weekend, with Lee McEvilly grabbing his first hat-trick for the club.

"One of the supporters said to me after that Exeter game that someone was going to get a beating off us, and 5-0 was a worthy result last week," Cavanagh continued.

"Hopefully we've turned a corner now because last month was my toughest spell as captain.

"Getting beat by Leigh and Oldham in two cup competitions was depressing. That's the lowest I've felt since I've been at the club.

"But hopefully that's behind us now."

Last week's rout will have at least provided a much needed confidence boost as Stanley prepare for their trip to leaders Barnet tomorrow.

"We're not putting any pressure on ourselves, but we do tend to do all right on a bigger stage," said Cavanagh.

And that statement was endorsed by manager John Coleman.

"It's the games against lower opposition where we seem to struggle," said Coleman, who was hoping to sign former Burnley goalkeeper Paul Crichton ahead of tomorrow's game at Underhill.

"We had two good games against Barnet last year. I think they were on a par with us then, this time around results will tell you they are doing better than us now."

However, the Bees will have been stung by last week's FA Cup first round exit at the hands of non-league Bath City.

Coleman added: "They will go one of two ways after that. It might have dented their confidence."

Apart from long-term injury victim Jon Kennedy, who has around another six weeks rehabilitation before he is available after suffering a broken leg, Stanley do not have any major injury concerns.

Rory Prendergast has stepped up his training as he targets next weekend's game at home to Canvey Island as his comeback match.

Cavanagh expects to be available, despite a toe injury which requires surgery in the coming weeks.

In the meantime, he has received anti-inflammatory injections to ease the pain caused by missing cartilage.

He explained: "I will have a fake cartilage injected that sets on the bone.

"It needs at least four days to settle so hopefully I won't need to miss any games."

He added: "It's one of the most painful injuries I've had but I feel ashamed when I tell people it's only my big toe that's the problem."

Barnet could be without Nick Bailey (knee) and Guy Lopez (groin), while keeper Shane Gore is sidelined after damaging his metatarsal. Dwayne Lee returns after suspension.