‘Horrendous’ – Accrington boss Coleman slams away form ahead of Charlton Athletic trip

Accrington Stanley manager John Coleman has described his side’s away form as “horrendous” heading into Tuesday’s trip to the capital to face Charlton Athletic.

The Addicks have made a woeful start to the League One campaign and are 22nd in the standings – their lowest position in their history – piling huge pressure on boss Nigel Adkins.

Accrington are seven points better off but still got a mauling from Coleman after a 1-0 reverse at Cheltenham on Saturday.

Stanley have banked four points from a possible 21 on the road but did win 2-0 at The Valley in the corresponding fixture last season. Colby Bishop scored both goals.

Coleman, speaking after the loss against Cheltenham, said: “We didn’t play anywhere near the level I know we can. We looked sluggish and tired. I don’t know why.

“If they had a compilation of comedy goals this season we’re right at the top of it. We’re top of the mistakes for unforced errors leading to goals. We’ve got lads who defend well but at key moments they go to sleep. Saturday was no exception.

“After they scored we were terrible. We didn’t show any kind of fight to get back in the game. We didn’t lay a glove on them after they scored.

“The game is petering out to a 0-0. You can’t gift teams goals, like we did on Saturday.

“We gifted them three opportunties after that. It doesn’t make kind of sense.

“But you’ve got two ways of going – you curl up into a ball and waste away or you stick your chest out and get on with it. And we’ll have to stick our chest out and get on with it.

“We’ve got a big game coming up on Tuesday. We can’t rely on our home form, there won’t be enough home games. We’ve got to find a way of giving silly goals away and starting scoring when we get opportunies. Harry Pell could’ve had the matchball on Saturday.

“Our away form is horrendous and it’s got to change. We looked a shadow of the team that beat Ipswich a fortnight ago. That day we won every individual battle, on Saturday we didn’t.

“We could’ve won that game. I’d have been no happier about the way we played. We were sloppy all over the park.

“I can’t put my finger on why we are what we are. I won’t be making any kneejerk reactions.

“We had a wonderful performance at Charlton last season but unfortunately at this moment I’m tossing a coin. We’re a very Jekyll and Hyde team at the moment. You don’t know what you’re going to get from us from one week to the next.

“We’ve got to be more consistent and more of a threat going forward. We can’t just be banging balls up to Colby.”