JOHN Coleman has insisted that his Accrington Stanley side should not be too downhearted despite a 3-1 defeat in their crucial six pointer at Gillingham on Saturday.

Stanley had taken 13 points from their previous five games and Coleman had described the trip to Priestfield as ‘a cup final’, with Gillingham going into the game occupying the final play-off place – seven points ahead of the Reds but having played four games more.

Victory would have put Stanley in a great position to make the top seven but defeat saw them slip back two places to 13th in the League Two table.

The Reds, who beat the Kent club 7-4 at the Crown Ground in October, have now visited Gillingham three times in their history and lost on each occasion.

Andy Barcham put the hosts ahead on Saturday but Sean McConville equalised after Phil Edwards had missed a penalty.

Barcham put Gillingham back in front just before half time, though, and Cody McDonald made it 3-1 in the second half.

Coleman felt his side gave a decent account of themselves, however, and has tried to keep spirits high in the Stanley dressing room.

“I’m disappointed we haven’t won and I know the lads are disappointed, but we’re not going to beat ourselves up over it,” said the Reds boss, whose side host Burton tomorrow.

“It was a good game, a good advert for League Two and we contributed well to it.

“I thought we played okay. In the first half I thought we were very good, I thought we passed Gillingham to death at times on quite a bobbly pitch.

“I was disappointed with their goal and obviously disappoin-ted with the missed penalty but we showed a lot of character. I was disappointed we conceded the goals in the manner we did and the third goal took the wind out of our sails a little bit.

“But we contined to push until the end and we’re not too downbeat.

“It’s a minor setback we feel.

“We still know and believe that we’re a good side and we’ll win a lot more games between now and end of the season.

“Their lad missed a sitter to make it 3-1 and you think it’s going to be our day.

“Apart from the three goals they haven’t really hurt us.

“So it’s not all doom and gloom.”