Stanley defender Dean Winnard wants the players to build on their two match unbeaten run with victory tonight against Bristol Rovers.

The Reds have drawn with AFC Wimbledon and Oxford United in their last two outings but the 24-year-old isn’t getting carried away about the upturn in form.

“I think I’d rather say that we’ve turned the corner when we’ve got some wins under our belts rather than saying that we’re turning the corner at the moment,” he said.

“The next three games are massive. I think we need to take six points, maybe push for seven, out of the three games and we can really stamp our mark on it and say that we’ve been down in the dumps and now we’re on the up.”

The former Blackburn man returned to the starting eleven for the Oxford game and is under no illusions about the size of the task the Reds face tonight against a Bristol Rovers side four places higher up League Two.

“Every game in this division is tough. It doesn’t matter whether you are playing Chesterfield at home or Dagenham at home. Every game could go either way. It’s just down to who makes the fewest mistakes and who takes their chances.”

The mood in the camp remains positive ahead of a big night for the club and Winnard believes that is down to manager James Beattie.

“He’s great at getting the players going and keeping us positive and that’s been really important given the position that we are in,” he explained. “We could easily have let our heads drop and the club would not be a nice place to come into but he makes it enjoyable every day and I think the lads really need to repay him by getting points on the board.”

You can read a full interview with Dean Winnard in tonight’s match programme, available from around the ground for £3.