Accrington Stanley manager John Coleman has not given up hope of improving his side's firepower, despite the transfer window closing last week.

Coleman revealed his attempts to sign Grays Athletic front man Aaron McLean failed before the Thursday night deadline.

But after admitting one of the major weaknesses in the Reds' 3-1 defeat at Lincoln on Friday night was their inability to finish chances, he is determined to make his men more potent up front and may use the option of loan signings to boost their ammunition.

"I wanted to sign a couple of forwards but loans looked the most likely option last week," Coleman said.

"It's no secret that I do want a striker. We've been frustrated in our attempts to sign Aaron McLean.

"He is just one of a couple of targets that we have had, and I'm still determined to bring a striker in, hopefully in the next week or two.

"I would never say that would be the final piece in the jigsaw because if you say you are happy with what you've got you stand still or go backwards.

"We will always strive to bring in better players to the club and try to improve our squad.

"I will try to improve my management technique and hopefully the players will try to improve their playing techniques, their fitness and their ability.

"Only by striving to be better will you be better."

But Coleman insisted there were plenty of positives to build on from Friday night's defeat.

"I don't think our performance merited a defeat," he said.

"Just as I've never been kidded by wins I won't get kidded by defeats.

"It will be a concern if it continued to happen and we can't do something about it.

"But I'm convinced I've got a squad of players who will roll their sleeves up and will win certainly enough games in this league.

"We have to improve our finishing. We also have to improve our defending. But I still think we're going in the right direction and I still think we're improving with every game.

"Maybe not on Friday defensively, but certainly the way we passed the ball, the way we added a bit of imagination and, in midfield, the wide players played a lot better."