ACCRINGTON Stanley have lost their last three matches against Rochdale and this is something manager John Coleman wants to put right against his former club.

The Reds welcome Brian Barry-Murphy's men to the Wham Stadium today after losing the reverse fixture 2-1 despite having the better of the play.

Stanley come into the game on the back of a seven game unbeaten spell and are looking optimistically up the table rather than over their shoulder.

“It has been tough playing against Rochdale lately,” said Coleman, who's side beat Burton Albion 2-0 last time out.

“We have played well in our last three games against them, but we haven’t got the wins and we will be hoping to buck the trend on New Year's Day.

“I have got a lot of time for their manager Brian Barry-Murphy, he has really made a good impression on me and on football with his managerial skills. I am sure he will go onto have a fantastic managerial career.

“Rochdale have got good players and they have gone to tough places this season and had good wins so we know it will be a test for us, but we will be looking to build on our recent home form.

“We have set some very high standards at the Wham Stadium with our performances, especially against Bolton and Portsmouth, and we know we have to try and adhere to them or even surpass them.

"The last three times we’ve played Rochdale we’ve lost and for the life of me, I don’t know how. "We’ve just got to keep going and believe it’s going to be our day."

Coleman's men made it two wins from two games over Christmas as they put two past Burton without reply.

"I’m delighted for the players, they’ve put a lot of effort into that and if you look at the first half, their lad got in on the left hand side and Ross Sykes has made 25 yards up to slide and make sure that if he was going to shoot then it’d hit him," added the Reds boss. "As it was, it was enough to put him off and he put it into the side netting. Joe Bursik’s made a good save at 0-0 and they’re the little things that can be defining moments in your season.

"The message to the players is keep showing the level of effort and commitment and work rate that we’ve shown and that’ll get you a long way because the ability is undoubtedly there. You can see that. "The longer they stay at that, the longer they can impose their physical fitness on the opposition and the more openings you make for your ability to carve open chances to score goals."

Top scorer Colby Bishop is expected to take a late fitness test for the game against Rochdale after missing the last two matches with a back injury.