JIMMY Bell is certain Accrington Stanley can get their home form in order and mount a serious play-off challenge in the New Year.

The Reds have won just four out of 10 games at the Fraser Eagle Stadium this season but Bell believes last weekend's dramatic victory over Chesterfield can be a turning point.

"That victory was a monkey off our back and a real confidence booster," said the Stanley assistant manager ahead of tomorrow's home clash against Shrewsbury. "I really do think it could be a turning point for us."

Now Stanley will be hoping to make it back-to-back home wins and avenge a 2-0 defeat at the New Meadow in September.

"It's going to be a similar game to the Chesterfield match and will be another tough test for us," added Bell.

"But it would be great to finish the year with a home win and go in to the Christmas programme on a real high."

The Stanley assistant says points and not performances has been the only thing missing from their games on home soil this term. But that is something he and manager John Coleman are working hard to rectify.

"We've said all along that if we can pick up more points at home then we have a very good chance of making the play-offs. Our performances have not been that bad but we just haven't been able to turn them in to points.

"That is why the Chesterfield display was so important for us."

Despite picking up just 12 points out of a possible 30 at home, Bell pointed out that the situation is not as bad of some people make out.

"There seems to have been a lot of talk of doom and gloom around this club but we are only five points off the play-offs. Had we won just one more game at home then we could have been going in to tomorrow's game looking at getting in to a play-off position."

Bell said a change in formation against Chesterfield last week brought a change in fortune.

He added: "Away from home we have been playing a 3-5-2 formation and it has been very successful but we have been stifled a bit at home.

"Unfortunately, we have not had the personnel to change things around but last week we brought in young Billy Dennehy and John Miles, switched to a 4-4-2 and played with a bit of width."