JOHN Coleman says his side will have to rise above the decisions that are going against Accrington Stanley as they look to end a run of poor results.

Saturday’s last-gasp defeat at MK Dons made it just one win in the last seven outings for the Reds who are now four points outside the League One play-off places.

While Coleman praised the character his players showed to fight back from 2-0 down to draw level only to suffer the “body blow” of conceding a late winner, he was once again disappointed with the officiating of the game.

“We don’t feel like we are getting a fair crack of the whip at the moment and this had been a reoccurring theme all season,” said Coleman ahead of tomorrow night’s clash with Sunderland. “That is not the reason why we are not winning games but it certainly makes it difficult to win games.

“Little things that stop you in your momentum and give the other team momentum are massive.

“Sometimes I get staggered by what I see but I’ve got to keep going. What is the alternative, pack in?”

Stanley picked up five yellow cards on Saturday and while Coleman says his players have to be disciplined, he believes they are being unfairly treated

“You see two identical fouls and one gets a yellow and the other one doesn’t just because it is us,” added Coleman. “And it was the same against Bristol Rovers on Tuesday.

“They weren’t getting booked for fouls that should have been bookings and this has been going on all season.

“I have got to pick myself up first and after that body blow in the last minute, that is a feat in itself but I will do and as much as I speak about it, the inconsistency in decisions, we have got to put that to the back of our mind.”

He added: “It seems to me we have got to play extra special, we have got to rise above it to win and if that is what we have got to do then we have got to do it and we will just have to cope with the bad decisions that we get every week.”