JOHN Coleman believes Accrington Stanley must continue to tighten up their defence if they want to challenge for the play-offs next year – even though they have already made a vast improvement.

The Reds have conceded 52 goals in 40 league games – 23 less than at the same stage last year – but are still 12 places behind fourth-placed Wycombe.

“I’ve been banging the drum all season and I’ll keep doing it,” said Coleman. “We have to tighten up defensively and we have done.

“But when you look at Wycombe’s place in the league and ours, they’ve defended even better than us to get where they are because they’ve only scored five more goals.”

Fixtures still to be played between the bottom sides mean Stanley will be mathematically safe today if they beat Lincoln and either Chester or Grimsby fail to win, or Bournemouth lose.

Bobby Grant and Ian Dunbavin could miss a chunk of pre-season training after their trial alongside Steven Gerrard, which is expected to last three weeks, was set for July 20. All three pleaded not guilty to affray yesterday.