ACCRINGTON Stanley boss John Coleman has warned Newport County AFC that his players are desperate to win the League Two title “in style” at Rodney Parade tonight.

Stanley are already assured of a place in League One next season and they need just one more point from their three remaining games to be crowned champions.

But Coleman says they won’t be settling for a draw tonight, insisting that the target is to end the season with three wins and 99 points.

“I know our boys; they [don’t want one point, they] want to get nine,” said the 55-year-old.

“You can’t get nine until you win your first game and we’ll be going all out to win on Tuesday.

“It won’t be an easy game. They are a good team with a good manager who will pose us all sorts of problems but we’re relishing it at the moment. We’re loving it.”

That was evident from Saturday’s thumping 4-0 win at third-placed Wycombe Wanderers and Coleman said that result and performance proves his side will keep fighting until the end of the season.

“I can’t praise our lads enough,” he added. “They’ve been absolutely magnificent all season.

“People were questioning our motivation [on Saturday], saying we’d been partying all week. We hadn’t.

“That was an answer to the people who were doubting us. I wasn’t worried about any kind of hangover. I know my players. I know what they’re like.

“They’ve had the bit between their teeth all season and they’re not going to let it go now.

“We’ve got three more games that we’re going to have to fight tooth and nail to get something out of.

“We want to do it in style if we can. We’re not there yet but we’ll keep battling away until we do [win the league].”

South Wales Argus:

County manager Michael Flynn is full of admiration for the job that Coleman (above) has done at Accrington, who have one of the smallest budgets in the division.

“I think it’s brilliant what they’ve achieved,” said the Exiles boss.

“I rang John [after they clinched promotion] and had a good conversation with him just to show my respect and he was very appreciative.

“I think he’s done a tremendous job there. He’s got an incredible team spirit there and it’s a phenomenal achievement.

“It’s their first time in the third tier and it’s good that John was the man to take them there because he’s got a lot of love for the club.

“He’s done a tremendous job there and I’m very pleased for John and the club.

“It’s a small family club similar to ours and I’m buzzing for them.”

Flynn will be happy to celebrate with Coleman after the match but he has demanded a reaction from his players following their disappointing defeat at Barnet on Saturday.

He added: “I’ve told John I’ll get a bottle of champagne in for him after the game, as long as we get the three points.”

And Coleman believes that the Exiles players will be fired up after Saturday’s defeat and the subsequent criticism from Flynn.

“They’ll feel as if they’ve got a point to prove,” said the Stanley manager. “Their manager was a bit critical of them after Saturday, so they’ll look to put that to the back of their minds and we are expecting a backlash.

“Teams have always got things to play for and footballers, by their very nature, want to win games because they’re competitive.

“We are expecting a hard-fought game, but I know that I wouldn’t want to be going into this game with anyone else but the players that I’ve got in my squad.

“We know that as long as we get ourselves right then we’ve got a good chance. We know we’re in good form, and we know we’re playing well. We’ll take care of ourselves and not worry about the opposition.”