ACCRINGTON Stanley surrendered a 1-0 lead in their Boxing Day draw with neighbours Bury, but manager John Coleman hopes it moves the Reds a point closer to safety.

It is less than three months since the Conference champions were contemplating another serious promotion push, but without a win in their last 10 league outings, attentions have turned to the opposite end of the table.

After slumping to a 4-0 defeat at Bristol Rovers on Saturday, Stanley recovered to earn a 1-1 draw with the promotion-chasing Shakers.

And while Coleman believed that, on chances created, his side deserved more than a point, he hoped it would count for a lot in the long term.

"The last thing we wanted to do was lose the game," the Stanley chief said.

"Hopefully it's another point towards safety. There are a lot of hard games coming up and we have to be on our mettle."

Stanley will be without defender Phil Edwards for Saturday's home game against Mansfield as he serves a one-match ban for accumulating five bookings, while fullback Danny Ventre is likely to be ruled out for several weeks after being carried off with a knee injury midway through the first half.

Meanwhile, Coleman has revealed the club has tabled an undisclosed bid for transfer-listed Crewe striker Luke Rodgers.

Rodgers was last week reported to have turned down an offer, believed to be in the region of £40,000, from an unnamed League Two club.