JOHN Coleman was delighted that his bid to take the pressure off paid off.

The Accrington Stanley manager urged his side to forget about their recent spate of missed chances.

And his pre-match pep talk worked a treat as both Lutel James and Paul Mullin ended their brief goal droughts to get the Reds back on track.

"I was delighted for both of them because they never stop working and it makes it quite comfortable for the manager when you know you've got players like that," Coleman said.

"We got plenty of balls into the box in the second half and I was delighted with that.

"Before the game I told the lads not to worry about missing chances in the future because you can get a complex about it.

"I'm more guilty of that than anybody so I said to relax, and the pleasing thing was that from the only two chances we got in the game we took both of them, so the situation's gone full circle.

"Chances we always going to be at premium anyway on Saturday with the wind because that will spoil any game of football.

"The best team in the world couldn't play in conditions like that."

Coleman also heaped praise on his defenders after a solid display.

"It was hard for us to get out in the first half but I thought we defended really well," he said.

"We went to sleep a little bit for the goal but, in fairness, the ball was going wide before the wind blew it in. Peter Cavanagh watched it go over his head.

"But we rolled our sleeves up and dug in."

Coleman added that it was time to bring the feel-good factor back to Stanley.

"I said we've got to start feeling good about themselves," he said.

"We've done well, we're a good side so instead of beating ourselves up about things we've done wrong it's time to look on the bright side.

"You couldn't really see Stevenage scoring in the second half.

"In the past when we've been 2-1 up we've looked nervous as anything but we had a bit of steel about us at the weekend and showed the spirit within in the team and I was delighted to get the three points.

"We've said we'll get our heads down and try to win as many games as we can for the rest of the season."

The Reds are now on an 11-day break between fixtures for Saturday's scheduled game at Telford has been postponed due to the Bucks' involvement in the FA Trophy semi-final.

That game has now been arranged for Thursday April 8.

But Coleman said the break would be welcome for a number of players.

"The upside is we're playing on a Thursday after Telford have played on the Tuesday as well so it's not too bad for us," he said.

"I think a couple of our players could do with a rest so I don't think a few days off will do us any harm."