MARK Hughes insists there will be no room for sentiment, despite facing a cluster of former team-mates tomorrow.

League One leaders Rotherham have four ex-Stanley players in their ranks - with Matt Crooks, Dan Barlaser, Michael Ihiekwe and Michael Smith returning to the Wham Stadium.

And while Hughes recognised their service for the club, his only focus is on stalling their promotion charge and continuing the Reds’ own good run.

“They came here and served the club well, they are all superb lads and good characters,” said Hughes.

“They are all doing unbelievably well for the club they are at now.

“We will say hello, but it will be a battle out there (on the pitch), and then maybe we will have a drink with them after.

“Accrington were good for them. If you look at Ikky, he wasn’t playing at Rotherham, came here (on loan) played regularly and he has not looked back since he returned.

“He has been captain and is probably one of the first names on the team sheet.

“Crooksy is a top player who can score goals. I still play golf with Dan Barlaser and he is doing well, on loan from Newcastle, while Michael Smith is a big threat.

“They have good players all over the park but hopefully we can put on a show and make it four league wins on the bounce.”

Stanley made it three wins on the spin after a stoppage time winner against Lincoln City last weekend - having trailed three times.

And while he was delighted to get the three points in a seven-goal thriller, he was frustrated by the goals against and hopes to eliminate those mistakes against the division’s second highest scoring team.

“Everyone was happy in the changing rooms after and I wasn’t so happy because, at the end of the day, we had conceded three goals,” said the centre half. “We scored some really good goals but we conceded a couple from set-pieces and that’s disappointing.

“We know Rotherham are a real threat from set-pieces, they have scored quite a few that way, and they are aggressive so we will have to be on our mettle.

“We have to defend better and, because they are top of the league, we know they will punish any mistakes.

“We have got to find their weaknesses and exploit them, be solid and make ourselves difficult to beat.”