THE week started off very well indeed. Tuesday night was a rather pleasant affair with more than a whiff of nostalgia about the Lancashire Senior Cup match against Bolton.

To beat any Premier League team is an achievement, even if it is only in a reserve fixture.

I am sure that some of the young lads playing for Bolton on the night will be on wages that would make their senior Stanley counterparts weep.

That was most definitely the high point of the week as Cheltenham came to the Crown on Saturday desperate to avenge last year’s thrashing. They did just that.

John Coleman said after the game the best team won and he was spot on.

People will look for scapegoats and players to blame for the defeat but the Robins came with a plan and it worked.

Tonight we travel to Chesterfield, who sit top of the league. We will have players back from bans and I am sure a changed 11 will take to the field.

This is a massive week for Stanley with Saturday bringing the FA Cup to town with Oldham the opponents in the first round.

We have not won in our last four first-team games but what a different world it will look if we defeat Chesterfield and Oldham.

It’s not as though I am looking through rose-tinted spectacles, I seriously believe we are a match for most teams at this level and the one above when we hit our stride.

With Terry Gornell and Sean McConville both scoring absolute crackers in the past week, I am still full of confidence for the season.