John Coleman is confident his Accrington Stanley side will last the pace in League Two.

The Reds are currently in fifth place but many critics will expect Stanley, on one of the lowest playing budgets in the league, to drop off.

However Coleman can see no reason why his side can’t stay among the promotion contenders.

“You get nothing for being up there in the first third of the season and we have got to make sure we stay there come the end of the season,” said Coleman.

“It’s good not to be scratching around at the bottom as it’s tricky to make up 15 or 16 points on those at the top  if you are down there.

“I do think we should be a couple of points better off than what we have now – our play deserves more – and I don’t remember us stealing too many games but there is a long job ahead.

“Many teams have to play each other and they will pick up points or drop them and we have to accrue enough to get where we want to be.”

He continued: “Every season we are tipped to go down. It’s the ‘little Accy’ syndrome but everyone in League Two knows we are a good team and they know that we have quality players.

“Unless all our players hit a dramatic loss of form or we have a catalogue of horrendous injuries there is no reason why we can’t stay there.”