ACCRINGTON Stanley boss John Coleman believes finding his mind’s “happy place” has helped his side turn around their fortunes.

Stanley ended a drought of eight games without a win as Paul Mullin and Terry Gornell got the goals as the Reds beat Luton 2-1 last weekend.

And the free-scoring duo were at it again as Stanley chalked up a home win over high-flying Shrewsbury Town in midweek.

The back-to-back successes have helped re-install a belief into the Reds and Coleman said he’s made an effort to stay more relaxed on match days.

He said: “Saturday mornings are always good because there’s anticipation ahead of the game you’re playing.

“But between 3-5pm your stress level go through the roof. I remember remarking to the fourth official on Saturday that at 3.20pm I was wishing it was 5 o’clock.

“It’s like wishing your life away but you can maybe take steps to relieve your anxiety and I was making a conscious effort in the second half on Saturday not to translate my anxiety onto the players.

“They do look over so I tried to stay calm and take myself to places in my mind to keep calm – like snorkelling in Egypt! It seems to have worked so far.”

And Coleman admitted the defeat against Bradford, when Stanley threw away a 2-0 lead in the last 10 minutes to lose, was hard to get over but had made him and his side even more determined to succeed.

He added: “Not being able to win a game for a while certainly got me down and when you get yourselves into situations where you should go and win it is even more frustrating.

“I think it does effect me at home. I think I go into my shell a little bit more and become more withdrawn “Football is a cruel mistress and it can be full of false dawns but the feeling when you get a win, and you’ve worked hard for it, I don’t think that can be replicated.

“What we have shown is a determination and a willingness to work hard for what they want.

"We got to the point where we’d forgotten how to win. Where we were scared that we were never going to win.

“When you get into that situation, every game becomes a big challenge for you.

"Sometimes you can not look forward to playing because you are going to be under that pressure.

“I’m not saying we got to that point, but now we’re at the stage where we can’t wait for the games to come because it gives us a chance again to do what we’ve been doing well.

“Every game is vital because every game is worth three points. If you get to a stage at the end of the season where you’re fighting for those points, you should have been fighting for them sooner and then the end of the season takes care of itself.

“I’ve been really pleased with the character that we’ve shown.

“You can really lose your confidence and sulk or you can stick your chest out and fight. I know from mine and Jimmy’s character there’s only one way we would go and that’s fight and be prepared to put yourself in a position where you can come out on top and our lads have responded to that.”

Peter Taylor’s unbeaten Wycombe are the visitors to the Fraser Eagle Stadium tomorrow, but after two successive wins, Coleman says he doesn’t fear anyone.

“I relish playing anyone in this league,” he said. “We are now a competitive league club and that’s always been our aim and we have to make sure we maintain our status for next season.

“They (Wycombe) have only beaten us once and we were very, very disapp-ointing against them at home last season.

“I spent the first half in the gantry and we were lifeless and I’d like to think that those days are behind us now so hopefully we cut in a a spirited performance.”