JOHN Coleman has been impressed with how AFC Wimbledon took to life in League One, and stayed there, but says they are not a blueprint for Accrington Stanley to follow because of the different ways the clubs are run.

AFC Wimbledon have a superior budget to the Reds, who were the lowest spenders this season after winning promotion to the third tier in the first time in their history.

But Coleman said that should not detract from Neal Ardley’s side’s achievements in maintaining their position in League One when they were among the favourites to go down in their first season.

“They’ve done well, they’ve got good players,” said the Stanley boss.

“They can be a handful on their day, which most teams can in our league.”

Asked if they were an example that the Reds could follow in their inaugural League One campaign, Coleman added: “Slightly different. We couldn’t use them as a model because of the way their club is run and the way our club is run.

“But what we said going into this league was that we’re used to playing this type of team because we’ve played them on more than one occasion home and away, so this is why we shouldn’t really be afraid of this league.”

Stanley have made a decent start since winning promotion, and go into tomorrow’s game unbeaten in seven.

But with the last four of their games ending in 1-1 draws - coming back from behind in each of them - Coleman is keen to get on the front foot.

“The first goal is important. At the moment we can’t seem to take the lead,” he said. “The pleasing thing is we’re always able to get back into games. But if you keep going behind that eventually won’t happen.

“You can’t fault the way we go about things though, we give it our all and the players are as disappointed as anybody.

“When we draw away from home against a team whose infrastructure is a lot stronger than ours and we’re disappointed and it feels like a defeat that shows how far our players think we’ve come.”

Stanley have an almost clean bill of health for their return to action at the Wham Stadium.

Striker Billy Kee has not reported any after effects of the foot injury that troubled him earlier in the season, following treatment.

Luke Charman is the only doubt with a minor quad muscle problem.