John Coleman hailed the win at Doncaster, which moves Stanley to the verge of League One safety, as ‘one of the best of my life’.

Stanley are all but certain to be playing third tier football again next season after moving up to 14th, and five points above the bottom four with two games to play, thanks to victory at play-off chasing Rovers.

Coleman feels he, and the players, can breathe a little easier after the win and hopes to secure safety in Saturday’s home game with Plymouth.

While the Reds boss doesn’t feel it’s job done just yet, with their League One status not mathematically confirmed, Coleman was proud of the way his side responded to Saturday’s defeat to Luton in which they were beaten 3-0 and spent most of the game with 10 men.

“This is one of the best wins of my life,” Coleman enthused.

“Those lads put in a right shift on Saturday, with 10 men, and this season has been a long slog.

“I’m not one to subscribe to the view that’s it too much for them, they’re young lads and they should love playing football.

“When the pressure is mounting and every game is a pressure game, it takes its toll and it has on me.

“I dread to think what it’s done to the players but hopefully we can breathe a bit easier and a bit more relaxed in our football and get the win to see off our home campaign and hopefully let the fans celebrate.”

Stanley jumped five places with the 2-1 win which came courtesy of first half goals from Sean

McConville and the recalled Paul Smyth.

This weekend’s visitors, Plymouth, are firmly in the relegation mix, with anyone from Gillingham in 13th down to second-bottom Walsall still not sure of their League One status.

And Coleman believes there will be plenty more drama before anything else is decided, with bottom side Bradford already down, but who joins them, remains up in the air.  

“This is a very strange league and there will be many twists and turns before the end of the season,” said the Reds boss.

“We need to get something on Saturday to be mathematically safe but until 5pm we won’t know what’s required in the

Portsmouth game.

“It’s massive. If we were going in to the game on Saturday knowing that you had to win then the pressure would have really been on, similar to when we played Macclesfield all those years ago, coming from 2-0 down.

“We have a tough game on Saturday and all the lads will be up for it.”

While Coleman was full of praise for his players, who pulled off the result, the boss reserved a mention for the 207 travelling supporters from East Lancashire who cheered their side on at the Keepmoat Stadium.

There were wild celebrations, not least from Coleman, in front of them at the final whistle, and he is hoping for similar scenes at the Wham Stadium this weekend should safety be secured before a final day trip to high-flying Pompey.

“The players showed big hearts, great character, mental toughness and I must give a great mention for the fans as well,” he added.

“They were superb again, and I’m delighted for them and the players because they have followed us all over this season.

“It’s a been a long old slog and we’re still not quite there yet, but we have taken a good step towards it.”