Accrington Stanley: Jack Nolan asks fans to stop 'abuse' of players at League Two strugglers

Jack Nolan is the only Accrington player to have scored a goal in their past five matches

Accrington Stanley winger Jack Nolan has asked supporters to stop their "abuse" of players on social media and at the struggling club's home matches.

Nolan says the response to Stanley's 3-0 defeat to Bradford City "cut deep" and affected his family.

"There were a few comments made to me from fans on Saturday," 22-year-old Nolan told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"I think everyone forgets that we've all got social media and we see it. We all go out to give 100% for everyone."

Long-serving manager John Coleman, whose first spell in charge of the club began in 1999, was sacked with assistant Jimmy Bell following a 4-0 thrashing at Wrexham on 2 March.

Accrington conceded all three goals inside the opening 38 minutes against Bradford, and Nolan said the reception from the Clayton End stand made the players feel "a bit like we weren't trying, even though we were".

The 12-goal top scorer added: "It felt like no-one was behind us. Maybe that had an effect.

"I'm not disputing that we were 3-0 down but the second half was much better and the Clayton End was behind us.

"It cut deep a bit, from your own fans. You have to be thick-skinned and take it on the chin but you don't expect it from your own.

"All we'd ask is for fans not to take it out on us on the pitch. There are a lot of young players coming through and they don't deserve that."

Accrington are 16th after four consecutive defeats and have only won once in eight games.

They are 16 points above the League Two relegation zone and nine adrift of the play-off positions.

They were two points off seventh place after beating AFC Wimbledon 2-0 at home on 13 February but have not won or scored a goal from open play in five games since then.

Former Wigan Athletic defender John Doolan has taken over on an interim basis from Coleman, who led the club to promotion to the EFL in 2006 and the League Two title in 2017.

"Emotions are high but people need to stick by us and [Doolan]," said Nolan. "Their departures have hurt us all, whether you think it's right or wrong.

"They did wonderfully for the football club. I spoke to Jimmy on Saturday and he's devastated.

"Now our job, as players, is to get behind John Doolan and give him our most, as we did for them.

"Saturday was a bit of a flat atmosphere from when we walked out.

"The fans have been here for a long, long time but we felt it was a little bit negative. When the fans are behind us, it definitely helps."