JOHN Coleman was pleased that his substitutions made the difference as Accrington Stanley overcame League One side Walsall in the Carling Cup first round last night.

Bobby Grant made it 1-1 within three minutes of coming on early in the second half and fellow substitute Sean McConville, who almost scored himself but saw a shot come back off the post, provided the cross for Paul Mullin’s 90th-minute winner.

That booked Stanley’s place in the second round, with the draw due to take place at 10pm tonight.

Coleman said: “It’s not too often that I make subs and they have a positive impact.

“But Bobby got the goal and after Sean hit the post he won the ball in the build-up, and thankfully Paul converted it.”

Stanley fell behind to Alex Nicholls’ eighth-minute goal but were given a lifeline when Rhys Weston was sent off 10 minutes before half time for a late sliding tackle on Phil Edwards, which led to a second yellow card.

“I felt for the lad,” said Coleman.

“I don’t think it was a malicious challenge but he mistimed it and it was just the way his foot came up. That probably changed the game to be fair.

“Their goal was a terrible goal to concede. We’ve been done again on a free kick and that’s disappointing.

“But we never let our heads drop and made a couple of chances after that.

“I think we’ve free-wheeled at 1-1 playing against 10 men, thinking it was going to happen for us.

“You can praise us for being patient and moving the ball around, but I think we could have pressed them more.”