JOHN Coleman has issued a stark warning to his Stanley players to shape up or face the consequences after they were beaten 1-0 by Rochdale on Saturday.

The Reds fell to a second straight League One defeat and are now without a win in five third tier games ahead of Tuesday night’s home game with Wycombe Wanderers.

And a fuming Coleman blasted his side after the Spotland loss, criticising his players’ effort, lack of purpose and poor finishing.

Stanley created a couple of clear chances in an even game against Dale but neither keeper had too much work to do and Coleman was angry with his side’s response to falling behind just after the hour.

Asked if it was the most disappointed he has been in the last 18 months Coleman said: “I wouldn’t say I was disappointed, I am absolutely raging.

“We shouldn’t be losing games that you have controlled for big periods. We lost last week and everyone blamed that on Barnsley being stronger than us. Rochdale weren’t stronger than us, they weren’t quicker than us, they weren’t technically better than us. They had a striker who was a bit wilier than us and that is why we lost the game.

“The players need some home truths now and again. I was disappointed with our effort and our passing in the last 25 minutes.

“We have to improve our finishing as a team, we have to make more chances and at this moment in time there is no purpose about us. We are just letting the game float along and hoping it comes. We have to something about it and if they (the players) don’t then I will.”

Coleman has largely stuck by the same group of players over a successful 18 months for the Reds but admitted he would have no hesitation in switching the side around or bringing in new faces in January, should results not improve.

On the dip in form he added: “We have to work hard and make it break and not wait for it to break. And if the players don’t do something about it then I have to do something about it. That could be an influx of players in January but I am not putting up with losing games that we should be winning.

“We are getting ourselves into a rut and the only way to get out of it is by working hard.

“The players have been left in no uncertain terms that if I don’t get what I want they are in for a long hard Christmas.”

The Reds face nine games between now and New Year’s Day, including seven in the league, and Coleman knows it is vital to regain some of their early season momentum.

“There is plenty of time to slide down the table if we are not careful and the lads need to have a look at themselves and I have to have a look at them,” he added.

“First and foremost I have got to review what I do and maybe I have got to change things around.”