ACCRINGTON Stanley manager John Coleman has praised his side's resolve at the back.

And the Reds chief believes there could be more to come from his ever improving defence.

Coleman was pleased to keep a clean sheet and earn a point from their trip to third placed Aldershot on Saturday, and is hopeful of building on that when they travel to Scarborough at the weekend.

"I'm pleased that we're starting to defend better," Coleman said.

"In our last two games, our keepers haven't made many saves, and that's the sign of a good defence."

The Stanley boss was particularly pleased with Saturday's display.

"We were good defensively on the floor and made some really important challenges," he said.

"We looked quite solid at the back and limited them (Aldershot) to one long range shot.

"There was a little bit of a scramble at the back post when they got a bit of a head of steam up and a long range shot in the first half.

"But we didn't set our stall out to get a point at all. I think we had a couple of good chances in the first half and their keeper made the best save of the game and Paul Mullin will feel he should have scored."

And the Stanley boss singled out centre half Jonathan Smith for praise after Saturday's 0-0 draw at third placed Aldershot.

"I thought that was probably his best game for two years," he said.

Coleman also explained his decision to leave goalkeeper Danny Alcock on the bench in favour of Carl Ikeme, who signed on a month's loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers last week after Jon Kennedy broke his leg in training.

"Danny's disappointed and rightly so. I expect him to be disappointed," the Stanley boss said.

"But the situation is that when you bring in players from clubs like that, you're obliged to play them or else they don't give you them."

Meanwhile, it will be a case of deja vu in the FA Cup fourth qualifying round on October 30.

Stanley have been handed a home draw against Conference rivals Leigh RMI - the same tie which led to the Reds memorable cup exploits last season.

"We battled well and our defence was superb on Saturday.

"Steve Jagielka was a whisker away from scoring as well, so we didn't go to get a point.

"We go to try to win every game we play, but sometimes you're not always allowed to get forward as much as you'd like to

"I thought Procky was magnificent on Saturday and lasted the 90 well and covered a lot of ground.

"He tired towards the end, as did Robbie Williams, because he hasn't played for a couple of weeks, buit they both did well.

IAN CRANEY

"I though they were superb at the back.

"Every game you play you want to win, but you'd take a point away at Aldershot.