COLBY Bishop was delighted for his friend and Accrington Stanley goalkeeper Dimitar Evtimov as he kept his first clean sheet since January.

Stanley have been unlucky so far this season with debatable penalties being awarded against them and conceding deflected goals.

Bishop, signed by John Coleman in the summer from National League North team Leamington Spa, scored the only goal in Stanley's 1-0 win over Southend United at Roots Hall on Saturday.

"I drive in with Dimi and he's wanted this clean sheet for a long time," the striker said when talking about his happiness for Evtimov.

"We've been unlucky, we've had penalties that were a bit dubious and chances that have ricocheted off people, but we've been working hard for it as a team.

"We're so glad to get it now and hopefully we can get quite a few."

The striker's goal in the second half at Roots Hall came following some good link-up play between Sam Finley, Jordan Clark and Jerome Opoku.

Bishop admitted that he didn't have to do much to do when scoring because of the good play around him.

"I didn't have to do much did I, it's great play by the boys," added Bishop.

"Sam was brilliant today and he's popping it around, and Jerome's put it on a plate for me, and you can't miss them."

Bishop missed Stanley's 1-1 draw at home to Blackpool, but played through the pain barrier on Saturday to guide his team to three points.

"It's good to get back, we didn't know if it was going to be okay but I trained yesterday and it felt okay, a little bit of pain from the game but it's all worth it when you come away and win one nil," he said.

"You've just got to play through it and it was worth it today, it's always worth it but especially today, we needed that clean sheet and that win away and we've got it."

Next up is Oxford United at home and Bishop knows that there are no easy games in League One.

"There's no easy games, every team's a good team.

"It's hard to come away but the performance that we had today epitomises what you want to do when you go away.

"We went one nil up, maybe should have had a couple more goals but we've kept it out and that's what you want, three points."