John Coleman says he will struggle to pick Colby Bishop up off the floor after the striker missed a late penalty in Accrington’s 0-0 draw at Blackpool.
The 24-year-old has been reliable from 12 yards this season and has scored 10 goals but saw his spot-kick saved by Chris Maxwell after 87 minutes.
It was a glancing blow to Stanley’s play-off ambitions and leaves them seven points off the pace, with Coleman making no bones about the psychological blow.
“You can say the keeper’s saved it, but it was a poor penalty,” said Coleman.
“Colby will be sick and it’s going to take a lot to pick him up after that.
“If you reflect on the shift he’s put in in the last four games then you can’t knock him.
“If you take a penalty – I took a lot of them for Morecambe and I never, ever enjoyed them.
“Now the keeper can move and they never could when I took them.
“Now he wishes he just smashed it into the corner like he usually does. When you change your mind on a penalty it’s the kiss of death."
Despite missing out on all three points, Coleman was pleased with his side's reaction after their 5-1 home defeat against AFC Wimbledon last time out.
“For how hard we worked and how well we nullified them we deserved it," he said. "For a team who are unbeaten as long as they are I thought our lads were brilliant.
“We’re coming away thinking ‘how have we not got what we deserve?’ And after conceding five on Saturday, we’ve bounced back brilliantly.”
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