JOHN Coleman is hoping Stanley’s first clean sheet of the season is just around the corner.

But the Reds boss joked that chairman Andy Holt is more than happy to see them winning games 2-1, if it means it saves the club paying out a clean sheet bonus.

Although Stanley are unbeaten in League One since the opening day of the season, they haven’t yet kept a clean sheet at this level.

Coleman admitted it was a worry, but said he was trying not to spend too much time thinking about it, as long as his team can keep winning games, as they did when beating AFC Wimbledon 2-1 last week.

Stanley will face a tough task to shut out high-flying Walsall at the Bescot Stadium today, but on their defensive issues, Coleman said: “It’s a little bit of organisation, a bit of luck and concentration as well. It’s something we’ve spoken to the players about.

“We’ve got to focus on trying to win games and if that means winning them 2-1 then so be it. But last year we won a lot of games 1-0, because we had the belief that we were going to keep it tight at the back.

“We were always capable of threatening teams if they came out too much at 1-0, we had the firepower on the break.

“I don’t think it’s on their minds too much, we’re not making too much and I think it would be foolish to do so, but we have got to concentrate on trying to eliminate attacking chances.

“It’s great for the chairman when we win 2-1.”

The win against Wimbledon last week was Stanley’s first home success of the campaign and ended a run of four successive draws.

Coleman’s men could easily have taken more points than they have done, but the boss is looking beyond point and more towards performances.

“I’ve always done that. My planning and my opinions are always formed on performances, even though points are your ultimate currency,” he said.

“I think we should have more points but I’m sure there will be periods in the season when we win games we shouldn’t, so we’ve just got to dig in there. It’s a long season and before you know where you are you’re halfway through it, we’ve just got to keep our heads above water and keep looking up rather than down.”