ACCRINGTON Stanley manager John Coleman insists the poor pitch at Rodney Parade will not affect his side’s preparations for Saturday's clash with Newport County AFC.

Stanley are looking to extend a 15-game unbeaten run and keep alive their hopes of making the League Two play-offs.

And Coleman has called for his players to play the same way and not be tempted to resort to a long ball game.

"A lot will be made about the pitch but it’s the same for both teams,” said the Stanley boss, speaking to the Lancashire Telegraph.

“I’m not going to get het up about the pitch. We’ve got good players who can play on any surface. If we get it right we can give them a good game.

"We won’t prepare any differently. We’ll still try to play our game and hopefully it will come through. It did last year.

"Their pitch was horrendous last year and we played some excellent football and won the game.”

South Wales Argus:

Accrington won 2-0 against Warren Feeney’s Exiles on their last visit to Newport in March 2016 (above).

And the current County caretaker manager Michael Flynn, whose side are one point from safety at the bottom, is expecting a difficult afternoon against Stanley.

“We’re playing against a really good Accrington team. They’re on a great run,” said Flynn.

“John Coleman’s put together a very good team there.

“They could have easily thrown the towel in when they were down the bottom but they are fighters and they’ve got themselves into a fantastic position.

“I know it’s going to be a tough game but it’s one that I’m confident that if we perform well we can come away winners.”

Flynn hopes Accrington do finish in the top seven but he’ll be aiming to send them home empty-handed this weekend.

“I’ve got a lot of time for John,” he added. “I think he’s done an absolutely superb job.

“Their budget is not great but he’s put together a team of talented and aggressive footballers – they fight and they scrap.

“And after Saturday I’ll be hoping they get in the play-offs because it’s a great story.

“But I’m hoping that we beat them and then they can go and win their last two games and sneak in.”