PIERO ‘The Postman’ Mingoia. Like a modern day darts player, the influential Accrington Stanley winger has been re-christened by the management staff.

Why?

“Because every time he gets the ball he delivers,” says Reds boss John Coleman.

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Mingoia joined Shay McCartan as the club’s joint top scorer after his sixth goal of the season helped Stanley earn a 2-2 draw at Wycombe Wanderers in midweek to prevent Gareth Ainsworth’s side from reaching the League Two summit.

But it is his supply line from the right wing that Coleman feels is just as crucial.

“Nine out of 10 times when he gets the ball on the touchline the cross comes in,” he said.

“I was only saying to him after the game on Tuesday, I wish I could put him in a time machine and have him putting the crosses in for me when I was playing, because it’s a centre forward’s dream. If you know they’re going to come in all the while it gives you a great opportunity to score goals.

“You see wingers getting moves and earning good money, and probably half of them haven’t got the heart that Piero’s got or the willingness to work as he does.

“I think that’s what sets him apart from ordinary wingers.

“Ordinary wingers have got a label of being lazy or timid in the tackle but that’s certainly not the case with Piero.

“He gives you everything. He ticks every box. If he was 6ft 2ins he would be the perfect player!”

Coleman says Mingoia, who made the first goal in the draw at Wycombe for Terry Gornell, is an example of the qualities needed for their ongoing fight for Football League survival.

Stanley go into tomorrow’s home game with struggling York City with 45 points from 37 games - eight points clear of second bottom Cheltenham Town.

But the Reds boss does not feel that it is a satisfactory cushion, or that the coveted 50-point mark will necessarily guarantee safety.

“Let’s not kid ourselves, we still need some points on the board,” said Coleman.

“People are saying we’re safe, but we need to win games. I think we’ve played some great football in the last couple of months but it doesn’t reflect our points return and it is a points business so we’ve got to get points on the board quickly.

“Perhaps 50 points might be enough, but I certainly wouldn’t want to set my ceiling at trying to get 50.

“I’m looking at 60-plus, and I think we’ve got a squad that are capable of doing that.”