JOHN Coleman has backed his Stanley side to get back on track at Gillingham tonight after their unbeaten run was ended at Wigan.

The Reds went down 4-3 at the DW Stadium on Saturday having not tasted defeat in their seven previous League One games as they closed in on the play-off places.

Stanley now head to Kent (5.30pm) 10th in the division and with the manager confident his players will be able to take the rough with the smooth – a situation Coleman likened to a mixed bag of confectionary.

“I don’t get carried away when we win or are on a good run and I won’t get carried away with defeats and being harsh on the players,” he said.

“The players are a great set of lads, they work hard and Saturday was one of those days when everything that could go against us did and you have to accept it in football.

“I was talking to (first team coach) John Doolan this morning and said it’s like a bag of Revels – every now and again you are going to get a coffee one.

“You don’t want one but you are going to get the coffee one at some stage and if you aren’t prepared for that don’t buy a bag of Revels.

“Don’t be involved in football if you are not prepared for those bad days.” Steve Evans’ Gills are three points and two places further back in 12th in the table, although Stanley have games in hand on all the sides around them after their enforced break due to a Covid-19 outbreak at the Wham Stadium.

“Steve has always produced good, winning sides,” Coleman told the club website.

“They have been on a good run, similar to us, and then they lost to Doncaster on Saturday

“He was quite critical of his team’s performance in the first half and then they did improve in the second half and I have watched bits of the game and he is probably accurate with his reflection.

“We know the style of football they are going to play and we have got to try and find a way to combat that.”

Defender Ross Sykes, knee, and on-loan Newcastle midfielder Mo Sangare, hamstring, are again ruled out.

Coleman added: “Being out for two weeks has to take some kind of effect on us, we know that.

“We had a couple of bumps and bruises on Saturday, whatever team we put out I know they will give me their all.”