STANLEY boss John Coleman says he is “delighted” with his side’s 3-2 win at Charlton Athletic.

The Reds had won just one of their seven away games heading into last night’s match and Coleman had described their away form as ‘horrendous’ after Saturday’s defeat at Cheltenham.

But Stanley returned to winning ways on the road thanks to Ethan Hamilton and a brace from Harry Pell.

“I’m delighted to win,” said Coleman. “Obviously, we haven’t been performing well away from home. I thought it was a great game – it could have been 5-5.

“Charlton came out in the second half, pinned us in, we score two goals against the run of play and then you think that’s it, game over.

“They threw everything at us the last five minutes but we held out.”

The result was another blow for under-fire Charlton boss Nigel Adkins, whose side have taken just nine points from their 13 league matches this season.

“I feel for Nigel,” Coleman added. “He’s one of the good guys and he’s come under criticism from the get-go tonight.

“He’s assembled a good set of players and the players need to step up to the mark. It’s not always the manager’s fault.

“You see it in the way they pinned us for periods in the second half – they weren’t throwing the towel in, that’s for sure.

“I’m a manager, so I’m biased obviously, but I don’t think he deserves the criticism he’s got.”

The Reds are back in action on Saturday afternoon when they welcome Portsmouth to the Wham Stadium (KO 3pm).