JOHN Coleman admits he may use Accrington Stanley’s Lancashire Senior Cup clash with Bury today as an opportunity to give some of his fringe players minutes.

The Reds are riding high in League One, currently sixth in the table having drawn 1-1 with leaders Portsmouth on Saturday.

The Stanley chief has largely stuck with the same XI this term and the clash with the Shakers could see the likes of Connor Hall, Luke Charburn, Ben Richards-Everton, Ross Sykes and Matty Platt handed game-time with the Reds enjoying a blank week ahead of Saturday’s trip to Coventry City.

“We’ve got a Lancashire Cup game so that’s a chance for players to play,” said Coleman.

“There might be a few tired legs there, it’s been a long week and a tiring week travelling and we can maybe get a bit of rest into some of the lads’ legs.”

Coleman was forced into a change against Pompey with Piero Mingoia stepping in to replace the banned Jordan Clark and the wideman could keep his place for the weekend trip to Coventry with Sean McConville now suspended.

Clark will return to the fold while goalkeeper Connor Ripley went straight back into the side in place of Jonny Maxted after completing his three-match ban following his red card at Shrewsbury earlier this month.

And Coleman is pleased with the depth of his squad.

“Jonny’s been unfortunate because we’ve won three out of four games with him in goal,” added the Reds chief.

“But we’ll pick what we think’s right on the day. We’ll have to make another change next week because Sean will be suspended, but we’ll just keep going.

“The lads on the fringes know there’s a chance there if they’re called upon.”

The draw with Pompey was watched by a season-high crowd at the Wham Stadium of 3,558 and Coleman felt the attendance added to the atmosphere with 2,500 Stanley fans in attendance.

He added: “It (the number of home fans) is encouraging and it will only get better if we try to keep our form and try to keep up at the top end of the table.

“It (the atmosphere) was fantastic. I’ve gone on record as saying how much I like the Portsmouth fans and how they’re proper football people. And our fans were magnificent as well so it was a good atmosphere.”