Accrington boss wants Portsmouth to 'thrive' - but it's not just the Blues who John Coleman is hoping enjoys promotion

But that's the same for League One heavyweights Sunderland and Ipswich, who are also pushing for promotion.

The Blues are aiming to return to the Championship for the first time since 2012.

They sit well poised in third spot, three points outside the automatic promotion spots with a game in hand on second-placed Rotherham.

Yet the race to go up is set to go down to the wire, with leaders Coventry, Wycombe Oxford, Fleetwood and Peterborough all in the mix.

It's the sides with big followings that Liverpool fan Coleman wants to see out of the ‘doldrums’ of the third tier.

But when his Stanley side play those teams, he has no room for sentiment – as displayed when Pompey were dispatched 4-1 at the Wham Stadium in December.

Coleman told the Lancashire Telegraph: ‘I want to see Sunderland where they belong, which is top flight or minimum Championship, and the same applies to Bolton.

‘I've been to watch Liverpool play both of those teams as a fan. It's the same with Ipswich and Portsmouth, you want the big clubs to thrive.

‘They have big followings and you don't want them to be in the doldrums.

‘But when you've got to play them you can't feel sorry for them, you've got to try to beat them.’

Accrington travel to Fratton Park on Saturday, March 14.