JOHN Coleman has told his Accrington Stanley players not to go into their shells against rivals Rochdale tonight as they bid to end a miserable run of home form.

Although the Reds boast a five-game unbeaten streak on their travels, it is a different story at the Fraser Eagle Stadium, which is gradually losing its fortress tag.

With eight defeats from 11 home games in all competitions this season - their last win coming against Macclesfield on October 19 - Coleman insists Stanley must quickly put that depressing statistic to bed.

But he believes one of his side's downfalls has been their tendency to waste chances in front of goal, and then fall in to a slumber.

"What's plagued us this season is that when we've missed chances at home, we've gone into our shell a little bit, and we cannot afford that," said Coleman "That's something I'm keen to press home to the players at the moment - that they've got to keep going for the 90 minutes because the chances will come along.

"The worry is not missing the chances - it is when we are not getting them.

"They have to keep putting themselves in situations to miss. The best strikers in the world are the ones that miss the most, because they are getting the most chances."

Coleman added: "The home form will only be a problem if we let it become a problem.

"We know we are a good footballing side and individual mistakes have let us down in the past and we've got to get that right.

"Hopefully, we will put Rochdale under pressure.

"We don't have problems creating chances in front of goal, we've got good attacking players and we can handle anyone in this league."

Revenge is also in their air for Stanley after last season's 4-2 thumping at the hands of Rochdale at Spotland.

Coleman is determined not to go through the experience of seeing his side humbled in that manner again.

He added: "Since we came back into the Football League, we haven't beat Rochdale.

"We let ourselves down in both games last season. We should have won at home, and away from home was possibly our worst performance of the season.

"That's still fresh in my mind and that's something I want us to overcome, and I hope the players are feeling the same.

"From my own personal pride, I didn't like the way we lost that game.

"I don't ever want to go through that again."