ACCRINGTON Stanley boss John Coleman insists his players will be fired up for their next League One challenge, and ready to bounce back.

The Reds chief admitted he felt aggrieved only by the scoreline in their midweek defeat to Luton Town, and not the loss itself, conceding that the Hatters had been “the better team on the night.”

But Coleman feels his side can have no better game to start the recovery than the visit of leaders Portsmouth tomorrow.

“I don’t so much think that we need it but it’s handy to have after that game,” said the Stanley boss.

“It’s not a game on Tuesday that I walked away from devastated and it was the end of the world because we’d been beaten 4-1. That game could have gone either way. I know that and I think they know that deep down as well. They were clinical, particularly within a minute. Bang, bang and it was more or less game over.

“I would say we’ll play not as well as that and win games this season. You have to be philosophical, it’s not always going to go your way, and the opposition do deserve credit.

“You move on to the next game and hope that you’re going to be better than the opposition.”

And Coleman is determined to focus on his own side’s strengths, rather than worry too much about what their high flying opponents Portsmouth have to offer.

“There haven’t been too many games that we haven’t scored in this season. I’ve been looking at some stats for League One and we’ve got the player with the most shots on goal and the most shots on target in Sean McConville,” said the Reds boss.

“I think Peterborough were amongst the top scorers last week and we stopped them scoring.

“We’ll do our homework on Portsmouth, which we’ve already started, and we’ll give them the respect because of where they are in the league and how many wins they’ve had.

“They’re a strong, powerful unit. You don’t get top of the league by fluke. But we’re going to concentrate very much on how we’re going to play the game and what we’re going to do to them, not what they’re going to do to us. It will be a tough game, but I like those games.”

And Coleman feels a vibrant atmosphere will add to the occasion tomorrow.

“It’s great (when Portsmouth come). I’ve been in the Crown a few times with plenty of their fans after the game.

“They’re a big club and it’s great to have these days, proper football as we say, and proper fans. They’ve gone through thick and thin with them, stayed with their club and hopefully they’re seeing the rewards now.”

One of the most famous Portsmouth fans is John Portsmouth Football Club Westwood, who follows the club home and away wearing a large stove pipe hat, curly blue wig, and plays a bugle and a handbell.

“He’s been in the Crown a couple of times and I’ve spoken to him on more than one occasions,” said Coleman. “He’s a character.”