Reds ready for trip to table-topping Burton

The Reds travel to Nigel Clough's table topping side tomorrow knowing it will be a test of how far they have come since they have refound their form.

Following an inconsistent start to the UniBond Premier season, the Reds are now making sides sit up and take notice of them with one loss in their last six games.

And Coleman has particular memories of Burton.

"I like going there as I always seemed to score. We always seemed to get beat, mind you, but I did always manage to get one," laughed the striker/manager.

"And when I became a manager at Ashton United, they were the first side I faced. They absolutely murdered us but we still won 1-0 in the FA Trophy. It was a good way to start my managerial career."

Burton moved from the Dr Marten's League last season and have only suffered one loss so far this season - to early title rivals Lancaster - and have in fact lost just one of their last 24 games carried over from last season.

They finished runners-up in the Dr Martens league last season but took up an opportunity to switch back to the UniBond to even up the numbers and they are now hoping to win their first title in 51 years.

As well as having the famous name of Clough in their ranks - although the son of former Notts Forest boss Brian won't be playing because of a cruciate ligament injury - they also have some familiar League names.

They include former Nottingham Forest and Derby defender Darren Wassell, one-time Stoke star Jason Kavanagh, striker Shaun Farnell and top scorer this season midfielder Darren Stride, who has so far notched nine goals.

And another one to watch is former Man City and Stockport striker Alan Bailey who, as well as being a male model and making an appearance on Hollyoaks this season, has scored five goals in the six games he has played in.

But despite all this, Coleman now believes he has the side to match them player for player.

"People go on and on about their names and the money they pay but at the end of the day it is 11 against 11 and I think I am finally getting there with Stanley.

"As I've said on our day we can beat anybody in our league and I feel the same about tomorrow."

The Reds had leaked 18 goals in their opening seven games but now have four clean sheets out of their last six games.

Coleman feels the new boys - former Blackburn Rovers Academy player Steven Flitcroft, ex-Liverpool trainee Peter Kavanagh and recent signing from Runcorn David Robinson - have taken time to gel but are now getting there.

This showed on Wednesday night as, after getting beat 3-0 by Colwyn Bay earlier this season, they got their revenge by defeating them by the same score at the Crown Ground.

"We are a totally different team to what we were then," said Coleman. "It is the same personnel, but it is a different attitude and belief. The players now believe in themselves, they have worked hard to turn it round and they all deserve credit. They have got a desire not to concede goals, not to make mistakes and try and get the passing game going.

"Now looking back it is disappointing the number of points we threw away at the start of the season but you can't look back, you have got to look forward.

"Playing Burton is a big game but at the end of the day it is just three points. They like to pass the ball, they have been attracting big crowds and I have watched them a couple of times this season.

"There is no doubt they are a good side but so are we."

And he is especially pleased with how the new players have settled in.

"Peter is a dream. He just never has a bad game. You can put him out and forget about him as he just does his job.

"Steve is now finding out what it's like to play in this league and he has popped up with five goals from midfield.

"And although Dave Robinson started slowly and I think there were a few raised eyebrows, we always knew what he could do and he is getting fitter and passing well.

"I don't think we are quite there yet, we are always looking, but we are going in the right direction."