ACCRINGTON Stanley manager John Coleman is urging his side to make every minute count, and try to retrieve that winning feeling.

Defeats were almost an alien concept to the Reds last season as they charged to the Nationwide Conference title.

But after picking up five points from a possible 18, Coleman admits his players are smarting.

"I think the players have found losing hard," said the Stanley boss ahead of tomorrow's trip to Notts County.

"We analysed the Lincoln video on Monday for two hours and all the players were given a self-analysis sheet.

"The ones who didn't play were asked to analyse someone in their position.

"They're not used to losing and it's hurting a few of them. They are keen to improve themselves - I don't need to tell them that.

"The art of being a good manager is getting good players.

"I have that, they're just not firing on all cylinders and it's up to me to get them firing.

"They've worked hard this week but the proof of the pudding will be tomorrow about how they've reacted. I'm sure they'll be chomping at the bit by tomorrow."

And Coleman is confidence that once the Reds get switched on for the full 90 minutes, they will pose plenty of problems for their League Two rivals.

"Perhaps apart from Nottingham Forest we haven't really aquitted ourselves well over 90 minutes," Coleman said.

"Our defending hasn't been good enough in certain periods of games, most notably in the early parts of games, and we have to address that.

"Weather the storm or don't let the storm happen.

"We have to defend properly and if you can defend properly you can occupy the team in their half without having to defend."

And Coleman embellished his bid to defend from the front.

"Attack is the best form of defence," he said. "That's not saying go gung-ho, but we need to maybe take a bit of pressure off the defence and get the ball higher up the pitch.

"In football you're all responsible for what happens on the pitch - whether you attack together or defend together. Just as attacks can be started from deep, defending can be started from very high up the field."