JOHN Coleman is relishing a special reunion tomorrow, when Accrington Stanley supporters return for a competitive game at the Wham Stadium for the first time in 525 days.

Fans whetted the appetite when they were allowed to attend home friendlies against Preston and Bradford.

But Coleman feels tomorrow’s first home game of the new 2021/22 campaign - against newly promoted Cambridge United - will be something extra special, after a season played out behind closed doors.

“I think they'll be looking to put on a show on Saturday, and the lads do appreciate and we appreciate and we do respond,” said the Stanley boss.

"It is a two-way process. We're there to enthral fans and inspire them and they're there to inspire us so it's like a marriage and both parties have got to do their best to please the other one.

"When we played Preston and we had fans there they ramped it up even more (than usual). It was like a show of strength really.”

But Coleman has noticed a difference in both away games so far too, most notably in their cup win at Rotherham on Tuesday night.

"Look at our crowd on Tuesday, they were great. They were great at Wycombe,” said the Stanley boss.

“The one thing about our fans - maybe with the exception of a few over my right shoulder - they never get on people's backs, they're very very supportive and that's what you want off a football crowd. The term support, supporters, lends itself to helping, not criticising.”

And Coleman will be hoping they can cheer them on to a first League One win of the season following last weekend’s defeat at Wycombe.

“You don't want to go too long without getting points on the board, that's certainly a big factor,” said Coleman.

"But there are no easy games in football.

“Cambridge had a good result on Saturday and they'll be looking to build on their positive start to the season.

"We have to try to get up and running and hopefully our fans will help us on the way to that.”