STEVE Jagielka has urged Accrington Stanley to be quick off the mark.

The midfielder was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet and avoid a 0-0 draw at home to Woking on Saturday.

And he believes early goals will be key to Stanley's progress this season.

"If we'd have scored early I think we could have won by three or four like the last home game against Crawley Town, but it wasn't to be," Jagielka said.

"For any team, if you score an early goal it settles everyone down, especially the way we play.

"It takes pressure off a lot of the lads and lets us get on with our game.

"But the longer the game goes on you're trying not to concede a goal because, if it's 0-0, it goes the other way. You haven't got that little cushion."

But while the 26-year-old knows goals change games, he is also aware of the importance of staying focused at the back.

"We didn't lose at the end of the day and that's the main thing," he said.

"If you have an average game and you don't lose you can't ask any more than that really.

"It got a bit scrappy towards the end on Saturday because everyone was hunting for the win but it just didn't seem to happen.

"Woking had nothing to lose at that stage, they were just banging it forward and trying to get on the end of loose balls.

"I think we're a better side than them but it sort of panned out into one of those games where it was always going to be a draw.

"In a way it felt like a defeat, especially at home, because we need to pick up as many wins as we can, as quickly as we can, then the season settles in.

"We've just got to move on, crack on with the training and hopefully pick up a win on Saturday."

And Jagielka will hope that he can convert some of the numerous chances that are opening up for him into goals.

"You need to score goals from everywhere on the pitch, especially if you're a side that wants to be up at the top of the table," he said.

"So hopefully I can whack them in the back of the net next time.

"We have people in various positions who are capable of scoring, and we had a few chances on Saturday but they just never seemed to go in.

"It was disappointing because I thought we should have nicked it."

Meanwhile, Stanley manager John Coleman has praised summer signing Jagielka for the commitment he has shown in the opening games.

"If everybody had shown Steve Jagielka's drive in the first half we'd have won the match hands down. He was a shining light," said Coleman of the former Shrewsbury and Sheffield United midfielder.

"I know everyone's made up of different personalities but they've been told in no uncertain terms that no team I put out will be done for lack of spark.

"It's never been wanting in my game and any team that goes out there and reflects me on the pitch won't be done for lack of enthusiasm."