Sean McConville believes Stanley need to get into that winning mentality in pre-season to take into the new campaign with the target of automatic promotion.
The winger was frustrated the Reds didn't win their opening friendly encounter against Premier League new boys Huddersfield with a Tom Ince goal, a £7.5m pre-season buy, proving the difference.
But he was delighted John Coleman's side gave a good account of themselves – and now wants them to turn strong performances into wins to set them up for the season.
“It was nice to get 45 minutes in the bag against a Premier League side. I thought we acquitted ourselves well and made the better chances in the game but we are disappointed to lose as the gaffer is trying to get that winning mentality into the squad – a ‘win at all costs' if you like," said the 28-year-old.
“Looking at it as a whole, they are a Premier League side, they have spent a lot of money and we are a League Two side so on the whole it's a good performance and we will take a lot of confidence from that.
“When you play a Premier League side, the difference is the sharpness, that little five or six yards they have got and they are better on the ball as well.
“But we won't play a team like Huddersfield in League Two this year, the way they play, they play a passing game, the full backs play as wingers and they just love getting on the ball.
“We won't come up against that this year so bit of a false game but it's good to get the fitness and we have another test against Everton on Saturday.”
The Terriers signed striker Nahki Wells a couple of years ago, a player Stanley know well from his League Two days at Bradford, and he is now destined for the top flight.
“It shows that if you score goals like Nahki Wells has, you will get a move and he continued that in the Championship and it will be a big test to see if he can do it in the Premier League," continued McConville.
"But we have players here who will excel in League Two and I am sure they will have another good season this year and I can see players for us playing in the Championship in the future.”
Unlike previous seasons, there were only a few trialists on show with the majority of last season's squad still at the club – and McConville knows that's a good thing.
“There hasn't been a big turnover this year so there is a lot of continuity where we can build from last season. We finished last season strongly and we want to take that into this year.
“It is a good squad, the five or six new players have been made to feel welcome and it's a strange at Accrington, everyone gels quickly and buys into what the gaffer and Jimmy (Bell) want this season and that's the aim of promotion.”
As an Evertonian, McConville is looking forward to coming up against a young Toffees side on Saturday.
“It will be good, I know the Everton team are away and it will be the young lads of 19 or 20 but it will be a test.
“They will be eager to impress their manager and former Accrington player Franny Jeffers is part of their set-up so be nice to see Franny.
“It will be a good game but we need to start winning games. It is only pre-season but it's important to go into every game with a winning mentality and take it into that season.”