STANLEY boss John Coleman admits his side’s 2-1 win at local rivals Fleetwood was “desperately needed”.

Ellis Harrison opened the scoring on the stroke of half-time but the Reds hit back through Sean McConville.

Fleetwood went down to 10 men five minutes from time when Alex Cairns was sent off for handling outside the area.

And Coleman’s men completed the comeback when Michael Nottingham headed home in the fourth minute of stoppage time.

“I thought we were the better team in the first half and definitely didn’t deserve to be behind at the break,” said Coleman.

“We were comfortable, but in the second half Fleetwood took the game to us and I think they can be desperately disappointed that they haven’t got something out of the game.

“On chances created, I think a draw would probably have been a fair result but when it’s not your day, it’s not your day, and it certainly wasn’t for Fleetwood.

“I know it’s frustrating because we’ve been on the end of that so many times ourselves this season, so I feel for them. If they keep playing like that I’m sure they’ll have no problem staying up.

“I know we can play better than that, but you can see what a win means to our players and our fans. Football is about winning games and we desperately needed that one.

“Particularly away from home it’s been a real bind, but thankfully today we showed enough character to grind out a result.”

The result leaves Coleman’s men 14th in the League One table with four games still to play before the end of the season.

The Reds are back in action on Friday, April 15 when they welcome Burton to the Wham Stadium (KO 3pm).