ACCRINGTON Stanley assistant boss Jimmy Bell is warning his Reds to ignore the history books – and says the past will have no bearing whatsoever on tomorrow’s League Two match of the day at the Crown Ground.

Stanley welcome huge Lancashire rivals Morecambe to the east of the county – and go into the derby as hot favourites thanks to their recent winning streak and a hugely impressive record against Sammy McIlroy’s Shrimps.

McIlroy’s men have beaten Stanley just twice in the past 10 meetings and saw their own fine home record spoiled by two Phil Edwards penalties when the sides met at Christie Park on Boxing Day.

But while the omens appear good for Stanley, Bell is keen to keep a lid on growing expectations around the Crown Ground.

“Yeah, we have a great recent record against Morecambe - but that means a page in a book,” said Bell.

“Records and what you have done in the past against a team counts for absolutely nothing. It is what happens on the day and anyone who expects the Morecambe game to be an easy game would be really mistaken.

“Mark my words, Morecambe are a very good team and will come to the Crown Ground wanting a bit of revenge for Christmas.

“We beat them at their place on Boxing Day and they will want to get their own back for that. They won’t be thinking about the recent record - but if they do, it will only be used to spur them on to try and beat us.”

While Stanley are flying high at the moment and are winning admirers with their style of play, Bell knows there is still much work to do if they are to reach the League Two play-offs.

Postponements and runs in the FA Cup and Johnstone’s Paint Trophy mean Stanley still have 22 games to play between now and May and the assistant boss is keen to keep collective feet on the ground.

“We are going along nicely at the moment,” he said. “But in football things can change very quickly indeed.

“A couple of bad results and a couple of injuries can really change a season and leave you right up against it.

“We are taking each game as it comes and try to get the result each time.

“But with our current form, teams will start to look at us as a scalp and we have to be on our game.

“I just hope our fans can turn out in force to back us and create that special atmosphere and help us towards a big three points.”