ACCRINGTON Stanley boss John Coleman says he has been left scratching his head in recent weeks as to how his side can't seem to get a win.

In their last three league games, Stanley have scored three goals but have only managed to secure two points from those games.

And again, in the Lancashire Senior Cup in midweek, Stanley again scored three but this time held on for the win against Rochdale.

And Coleman says he's hoping to turn goals into points as they look to climb away from the foot of League Two over the festive period.

He said: "It's an amazing run really. It's been very frustrating.

"But we've been working hard in training and we have to get it right.

"A lot of people thought that when Gary (Roberts) and Ian (Craney) left that the goals would dry up but we've no problems in that department. It's defensively that we have to tighten up.

"We've got some really important games coming up over the Christmas and New Year period and we've got to start picking up points if we're going to have any success in this league.

"But it doesn't help that we've had so many injuries.

"Players seem to be dropping like flies at the moment. It's got to the stage now that we've three youth team players on the bench for Saturday's trip to Bristol.

"It's times like this when you learn a lot about your players and I know we have a great team spirit.

"That's been shown several times as we've come from behind on a number of occasions."

Coleman's men travel to the West Country tomorrow to take on Paul Trollope's Pirates.

And Coleman reckons there are similarities between the two sides.

He said: "They've been a bit in and out like us. We've had them watched a couple of times so we know what they're about.

"And we seem to do quite well on long trips so hopefully we'll be able to get a result to take us into a busy time."

On the player front, Coleman was delighted to keep the services of Joe Jacobson who will remain at Stanley until mid-January.

But fellow loanees Curtis McDonald and Adam Dugdale have returned to their clubs. Elsewhere, David Brown has extended his loan at Burton for another month but Rikki Bains has returned from Leek Town.