JOHN Coleman admitted he experienced mixed emotions after his Accrington Stanley side were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Portsmouth.

The Reds had enough opportunities to score at least four in the first half, with Josh Windass converting the most difficult of their chances direct from a superb free kick.

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Their lead lasted only four minutes though, as Stanley conceded cheaply from a corner.

But despite the frustration of being made to play with 10 men for more than half an hour following Anthony Barry’s 53rd-minute dismissal, and having a valid penalty appeal rejected when Piero Mingoia was tripped, Coleman said he was impressed with his side’s resilience to preserve the point – making it four from a possible six against Portsmouth with December’s win at Fratton Park.

“In the end we’re relieved to get a point because we were under the cosh for long periods,” he said.

“It was a smashing game of football in the first half that sadly didn’t live up to its promise in the second half and it became scrappy.

“It became damage limitation for us and I think they got a bit frustrated.

“But in the first half it was end to end and a testament to what League Two is all about.

“In my eyes, that’s why people should come and watch League Two football and not watch Premier League football.”

But Coleman could not hide his annoyance at some of the refereeing decisions.

“At the end of the day, my day’s been ruined by what I’ve seen out there – not from our lads.

“It’s just happening too regularly,” he said.

“It’s like a progressive thing that everything that can go against us does go against us.

“It’s like a steady drip that’s turning into a tidal wave.

“You speak to the referees after the game and they’re sympathetic to you. Some of them have the good grace to phone you up and admit that they’re wrong.

“It’s just happening to regularly.

“Whether it’s a sending off or not is immaterial. The first five minutes of the second half we’ve been denied four fouls and he’s laughing and joking about it.

“We got two fouls in the second half, attacking wise, and he was giving them willy-nilly against us.

“You get told there’s been contact on Piero but they don’t think it’s enough to go over.

“He’s running; he’s sprinting. If someone trips you – you only need a little clip to send you over.

“Piero’s the most honest man you’ll ever meet, and he’s deemed that it’s not enough to give a penalty. Why not book him for diving then if he thinks he’s dived?

“It’s a penalty.”

Coleman added: “I’ve just got to focus on our hard-working performance in the second half and how we’ve got a point in adverse circumstances. All credit to the players, they’ve worked hard for the last three or four games, they’ve put a right shift in and they probably need a rest now.”