ACCRINGTON Stanley manager John Coleman thinks his side could have been looking towards the play-offs if it wasn't for a disappointing January.

The Reds's dramatic 4-3 win at home to Lincoln City on Saturday means they have now won three on the bounce in League One.

Coleman was never in doubt over whether his side would lose the match because of the character that is in the squad.

"We let ourselves down in January because it’s so disappointing," said Coleman.

"They gave the award out for manager of the month, but really, it’s team of the month and we won that in December. "I said if you’re going to do any damage in this league then you have to win it two or three times and then we could’ve been looking at the play-offs.

"We’ve just got to keep going, we owe it to the fans who have been magnificent.

"That should be the same at every football team up and down the country, whatever league or level, they’re the ones who pay your wages. "You’re ambassadors for them. It’s very rare we get found wanting for effort and this was exactly the same.

"We’ve come back three times and still had the character to go on and win the game."

Dion Charles had the chance to put Stanley in a 2-1 lead at the start of the second half, but his penalty was missed.

Coleman thought this miss was going to be the talking point from the match: "You think the talking point’s going to be the missed penalty. "At 1-1, you get a penalty in the second half, we could have gone on and pinned them in.

"We didn’t, and you’ve got to give them credit, they attacked us and made it difficult for us. We’ve had to come up with some really special goals to get the win.

"I never thought we’d lose it because I know the character we have in the side and we’ve been digging in so well as of late.

"Again, they’ve ran themselves into the ground in difficult conditions. The wind was strong, and the rain was getting heavier."