Stanley boss John Coleman says League One survival is ‘a big prize’ for his side as they moved to 54 points with Saturday’s win over Plymouth.

That was the first time since December that the Reds had recorded back-to-back wins having moved to the verge of safety with victory at Doncaster last week.

But they made sure of League One football for next season with their biggest win of the season, as the previous lowest scorers at home in the league put five past Argyle who dropped in to the relegation zone.

By contrast, Stanley head in to this weekend’s season finale at high-flying Portsmouth in 13th place and looking for a third straight win for the first time this season.

Stanley won the League Two title last season, as well as promotion, but safety this season brings the same prize, according to boss Coleman.

“We are going to be throwing the replica cup around that is for sure,” said Coleman.

“It is a big prize and people forget that. How you get to League One status, last year winning the league crest of a wave, the year battling against relegation the prize is still the same.

“People should take a step back and realise what we have got to play with and release there are a lot more clubs well off, a lot better off than us who are going to go down this year.”

Stanley’s form at the Wham Stadium had been the cornerstone of their promotion last season, but victory over the Pilgrims was just their seventh this campaign, with Coleman having branded their home results this season as ‘abysmal’ in the lead up to the game.

The Reds were in the top half for much of the first half of the campaign, but a difficult 2019, in which goals have been hard to come by, saw them slide towards the bottom four.

They have however, not been in the relegation places since the opening weekend of the season when they were beaten 3-0 by Gillingham.

Coleman felt performances during their recent poor run of results merited more, and feels the players have got what they deserved in their last two matches.

And to keep bouncing back from disappointments is testament to their character, in the manager’s eyes.

He added: “What makes me proud is the effort the players show every week.

“We might get down for guile or a lack of composure or making the wrong decisions but you can never fault them for their effort.

“The lads give a right shift every week.

“That is on the back of a really hard game on Tuesday that we did really well in and come and then turn it on (against Plymouth).

“I am really pleased for the fans who have been magnificent all season but I am more pleased for the players.”