JOHN Coleman says there is a feel-good factor around the club at the moment as Accrington Stanley prepare for tomorrow’s clash at Ipswich Town.

The in-form Reds are currently on a five-game unbeaten run - the latest last weekend’s 1-1 draw with Sunderland - that has seen them rise to 10th place in the League One table.

Coleman says not getting beat is the secret to the upbeat mood around the Wham Stadium which has harboured a sense of self belief in the camp.

“There is a feel-good factor, it’s a good place to be,” Coleman told the club’s website.

“The best way to foster team spirit is win games, or don’t get beat, or perform well in adversity and we have done all them over the last five weeks.

“The lads are starting to believe in each other, it takes a lot of hard work, and we have got a strong enough squad.”

He added: “I was pleased with our performance against Sunderland. They are one of the top teams and if we are slugging it out with one of the top teams and not looking out of place it shows we belong in League One.”

Coleman will have to reshuffle his pack for the trip to Suffolk with Liam Coyle and Ross Sykes both suspended while striker Jovan Malcolm was recalled from his loan spell by West Bromwich Albion earlier this week.

“Ross has been outstanding so it’s a blow but it gives other people opportunities,” he added. “One of the current themes of this season is that, whenever anyone has got an opportunity, they have grabbed it not so much with both hands but both hands, their feet and they have held onto it for dear life.”

The Reds boss also admitted they are short of numbers up front with Dion Charles being sold to Bolton Wanderers and Malcolm returning to his parent club while Joel Mumbongo is currently injured.

“We have lost a few players so that’s something we will have to reinforce and it’s just picking the right ones. You don’t want to jump in and panic but we have got a few irons in the fire.

“Everyone is trying to reinforce and sometimes you can get numbers and not the quality and we don’t want to do that.

“When you are doing ok, you are trying to bring players in that you can’t say you can go straight into the starting XI, that makes it difficult.

“It takes a certain type to perform well at Accrington and, when we get them and get them going, they generally go onto good things.

“Whatever area you want to strengthen is always the hardest, there seems to be a dearth of them. Everyone wants someone who can work their socks off, can win headers, can run the channels and is quick and can score 25 goals. If they can do that, they are going into the Premiership.

“There are lads out there who are looking for an opportunity and we have got to be mindful we get the right ones.”

While the Reds boss has talked about incomings, he is also wary that scouts will be looking at his players.

“I have heard nothing and I would like to hear nothing. If clubs are interested you would like them to do it now and not leave it until the end of the month but that’s football.”