Let's talk about the Accrington Stanley game

[selby]

   A game against the team that allowed us to start the season with a bang us winning 4-1 in the first game of the season, and left us dreaming of a good season ahead.
   Well it hasn't been bad, a couple of welcome little cup runs and sitting in the promotion positions is as much as we can expect really at this point in the season, and we do have a chance of getting among the promotion places.
   The only down side perhaps is our present form, which although  seems to be keeping us in the hunt is hardly encouraging total confidence in our ability to go on and finish the main aim of the season which is to get automatic promotion.
   Last nights performance, although played on a poor pitch which did alter our game, we were far from convincing against a side that were not pulling up any trees themselves when it came to flowing football.
   Our biggest problem was not converting relatively easy chances in front of goal, at least three going begging when we were well on top in the first thirty minutes and should have put the game to bed, and our outlook would have been so much more encouraging.
  Other than that we battled on a pitch getting worse by the minute, and with our central defenders defending our penalty area well despite their right winger having a field day when down to ten men we held on and found a way to hold on to the win, commendable in the circumstances but should have been unnecessary.
   So we go Saturday to our old friends at Accrington, probably to encounter similar conditions and a team that are battlers, come mainly from the same stock that has given us trouble encountering physical, disruptive play in midfield , and now a constant stop start game designed to stop any momentum we might be building.
  We will be forced into at least one change after the sending off at Morecambe the rest hopefully picking up no injuries, and I hope like last night if conditions are poor pitch wise we once again get the ball forward quickly and play as much of the game as possible in our opponents half, as if the pitch is poor with the weather that is where mistakes will be made, not a type of game for the purists but more effective in the conditions and keeps your defence facing the ball, not trying to turn on mud.
  There were signs last night that we can stand up for ourselves when the game gets to be a battle, when down to ten men we  did well with everything against us game wise, the subs doing well when needed and the two central defenders outstanding.
  Ironside and Sharp must have been sick as parrots as in the first half the ball was played into the area where in the box they excel a lot and they have had no service of late but came on late when down to ten men and worked for the team
  Another hard game in prospect but against a side that have lost three and drawn two of their last five games, but have always given us a run for our money especially at home and we again desperately need the three points to keep up in the promotion race.
   A mention for our away support, which came over on TV last night as loud and proud, fantastic on a night when being wrapped up in front of the television was an easy choice, Fantastic,  the players must be impressed with your backing.
  Lots to talk about once more, more biting of finger nails wondering just what side of our game we are going to show in this fixture, flowing football probably in the conditions which hopefully will be better than last night not on show, but another learning curve for some of our youngsters who Grant seemed to hide a little last night going for more experience do you think?
  What team?  What sort of conditions? can we take a bigger percentage of chances created? Have we got the desire to battle it out if required? all relevant questions please have your say

[IDM]

Not sure they “allowed” us anything that day.  Moly’s wonder strike followed by Gibson’s killed them off IMHO..

They will be tough to beat no doubt, a game for defences to dominate methinks..

[welloffside]

Selby,
             Thank you so much for getting the "sick as parrots" into your preview.

[edlored]

Not bothered if we play like a pub team having a laugh the three points is all that counts

[Reg of the Rovers]

Street plus a clean sheet the bright spots from last night. He'll get sharper with more game time.

TSL // Olowu / Bailey / Anderson // Sterry / Crew / Clifton / Gibson // Molyneux // Street / Ironside

3-4-1-2 - with Moly the 1 in a free role supporting midfield and attack.

Grant needs to change the formation, we look stale at the moment, and rotating personnel over and over is even more disruptive. Time to find our creativity and control in games and kick on.

[ncRover]

Grant said in his Morecambe post-match that Accrington have a good pitch and that it will be a different type of game. He said they’re a good footballing side.

[IDM]

Their experienced bloke (name escapes me) plays down the right is their biggest threat I think.  Especially if we don’t have a LB…

[pib]

GM said Maxwell will play through the injury whilst Senior is out by taking painkillers and strapping up the broken toe.

[i_ateallthepies]

GM said Maxwell will play through the injury whilst Senior is out by taking painkillers and strapping up the broken toe.

It must be a minor toe otherwise that's a... surprising decision.

[pib]

GM said Maxwell will play through the injury whilst Senior is out by taking painkillers and strapping up the broken toe.

It must be a minor toe otherwise that's a... surprising decision.

Little toe I think, not sure if it was mentioned in his DFP or Radio Sheff interview (or both).

[ravenrover]

GM said Maxwell will play through the injury whilst Senior is out by taking painkillers and strapping up the broken toe.

I think he added if he can play through the pain

[ncRover]

How would you rate the performance of the left side of defence with Anderson and Senior compared to McGrath and Maxwell, selby?

[selby]

  Anderson is a better defender than McGrath especially in our own area, we need a better defensive left back , Faulkner with his better defensive play and pace and how good he is in the air, and having played well on the left in Ireland could be the answer I don't expect to be given the chance and is playing very well at Buxton and would get our best three defenders on the field.
  Senior and Anderson would be my pick of the ones that will play as defensively they are better and our midfield are not that defensively minded, and attack minded they offer as much.

[Chris Black come back]

Another side with a poor home league record. Only one side (Carlisle, two) has managed fewer wins at home this season than Accrington (three). However they don’t lose many. In fact, they have lost as many at home (four) as we have. Their recent league form isn’t great. Last five league games, lost three and drawn two, scoring just a single goal across those five games. 

[DonnyBazR0ver]

GM said Maxwell will play through the injury whilst Senior is out by taking painkillers and strapping up the broken toe.

I think he added if he can play through the pain

Well so far, it's been difficult for him, as he's never quite got up to full speed since his own return. I wonder whether he's been trying to hide the problem, hoping it would get better. Is it worth the risk of him breaking down again?

I think I would rather have a fully fit Senior than an 80% Maxwell going forward but, our choices are limited for this one. As said above, a change of formation is quite likely, unless he switches Nixon or Sterry.

Another tough away encounter but, if we create as many chances as we did v Morecambe and continue to play like it really matters we have a great chance of winning.

[colincramb]

We have to find a way to win. Simple as that really. Kid gloves are off now. The recent prediction models show we are failing short points wise and coupled with our poor goal difference we simply have to win games like this.

I really don’t want this team tested over two legs in a playoff.

[selby]

  In Whalley Accrington have a player in the top twenty goal scorers in the division, and needs to be watched closely, although goals recently have been hard to come by for the team, and is their biggest problem according to their manager
  I coined the fraise we are just the side to get a team back on track who are struggling a few years ago, and this is a game we need to kick the habit into the long  grass, as every game becomes more and more important at this time of the year concerning promotion and relegation.
  A run of good results is not beyond us, and winning games affected by pitch conditions at this time of the year is an added hazard, with some teams not having the best surface to play on  and require players to adapt to the conditions with a simpler approach often the best option, and playing as much of the game high up the field as possible causing defences to make mistakes a good approach.
  Accrington's pitch from memory also has a slope from end to end that could make it more difficult at one end of the playing area.
  A lot for visiting teams to overcome, even if they are a better footballing side, and another battling  display like at Morecambe and hopefully a bit more luck in front of goal  could well see us get a result, but it will not be easy and we will have to be on it from the start.

[IDM]

Whalley, yep that’s who I meant.. 

[PDX_Rover]

Ref is from 40 miles away. Would we consider that an impartial distance?

[Pancho Regan]

  In Whalley Accrington have a player in the top twenty goal scorers in the division, and needs to be watched closely, although goals recently have been hard to come by for the team, and is their biggest problem according to their manager
  I coined the fraise we are just the side to get a team back on track who are struggling a few years ago, and this is a game we need to kick the habit into the long  grass, as every game becomes more and more important at this time of the year concerning promotion and relegation.
  A run of good results is not beyond us, and winning games affected by pitch conditions at this time of the year is an added hazard, with some teams not having the best surface to play on  and require players to adapt to the conditions with a simpler approach often the best option, and playing as much of the game high up the field as possible causing defences to make mistakes a good approach.
  Accrington's pitch from memory also has a slope from end to end that could make it more difficult at one end of the playing area.
  A lot for visiting teams to overcome, even if they are a better footballing side, and another battling  display like at Morecambe and hopefully a bit more luck in front of goal  could well see us get a result, but it will not be easy and we will have to be on it from the start.

They have a player in the “top twenty scorers in this division” so we need to be wary of that?
I would suggest that any striker below the top twenty can hardly be called a striker.

And it’s “phrase” not “fraise”.

[PDX_Rover]

Strawberries?

[Pancho Regan]

Strawberries?

I thought of putting that PDX!

[Colemans Left Hook]

Just how did they manage to lose 2-0 to Morecambe in their last match away when they only lost 1-0 at Bradford before that ????

but Bradford only beat anyone 1-0   !!

before that they had played 3 proper teams got one point and lost the other 2 by the odd goal.

to Port Vale 2-1 away , A F C Wimbledon (the usual 0-0 draw) , Bradford

including the Liverpool match they have not scored in 6 of the last 8 matches

in that run they won 1-0 at Crewe

so 1-0 should do the trick ?

Now for the fact you have been waiting for their last 8 goals have all been scored by a player with a name starting with "W"

[ferribyrover]

It’s a game we can and should win. I was at the Bradford City v Accrington match and Accy tried to play passing football, but seemed lightweight and created little. Did hit woodwork twice though. Bradford closed them down quickly all over the pitch and deserved the win.
If we work hard, no silly errors, it’s our game to win.

[Metalmicky]

3 Accy players in a car accident....

https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/three-accrington-stanley-players-involved-110000168.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly9jLm5ld3Nub3cuY28udWsv&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAC5r4WlDxfRp9e-YiX7JyTA5jnBAXqlrT0dE-X6b9jL3eSfF2mr4vl5PBcwWSGmWKVt9y-gpC-AduZ7epGiyGetnpq_v__I83egMnRVokVpPhGu1hXn4Eb3JJ1d8qoPC57tCrEHbfD0ZR8SUbt4_NIzb8rL8bfRDZ29iVAq0mAqb

[selby]

 Let's hope we don't have a car crash against them on Saturday then.
  Great they seem to be OK.

[ncRover]

Maxwell couldn’t complete the training session after an injection and Tom Nixon has a sickness bug.

Looking at his career stats, Harry Clifton has filled in a number of times at left back so I’d imagine he will play there tomorrow.

[Reg of the Rovers]

Some divine force is telling Grant he has to go back three!

[GazLaz]

Some divine force is telling Grant he has to go back three!

Only got two centre halves and one full back!

[DearneValleyRover]

Some divine force is telling Grant he has to go back three!

Only got two centre halves and one full back!

Not if McGrath is fit