PREVIEW: Accrington

5 October 2018

Marcus gives us his preview ahead of tomorrow's game against Accrington

For the second weekend in a row, Shrewsbury Town play host to their opposition in League One with high flying Accrington visiting Montgomery Waters Meadow. The Lancashire club are currently sitting pretty in fifth place in the division with 20 points from their eleven games so far. They've made a great start to their League One campaign after winning League Two by five points last season, losing just once so far and that was the first game of the season at home to Gillingham. This means that they're unbeaten in their last ten league games and haven't been beaten in an away game since the final game of last season.

Top Scorer

Billy Kee tops the scoring chart for Accrington with five goals so far this season. Originally a Leicester trainee, Kee's first club other than Leicester was Accrington who he joined on loan in 2009. He managed 9 goals that season from 15 starts and 22 appearances before returning to his home club. Since then he's played for Torquay, Scunthorpe, Mansfield and most notably Burton where he played over 100 games, scoring 42.

Clean Sheets

Despite great form, Accrington hadn't managed a clean sheet all season until last weekend when they beat Walsall 1-0 away. They followed it up with a clean sheet at home Doncaster on Tuesday night meaning they have two all season and two in a row.

The Manager

John Coleman has managed five clubs, Ashton United, Southport, Rochdale , Sligo Rovers and of course Accrington where he's been in charge twice. His first spell was for nearly thirteen years and consisted of 587 games, 236 of which were wins. They were in the Northern Premier League First Division when Coleman arrived from Ashton United and in that first spell he pushed them all the way to the football league before moving on to Rochdale in 2012, then to Southport and finally Sligo before re-joining Stanley four years ago. It's quite an amazing career, how many managers in the modern game could claim to have taken a club up four levels?

Referee

Andy Woolmer from Northamptonshire. Games this season: 1. Yellow cards: 1. Red cards: 0.

Assistants:Mark Jones and Adrian Waters
Fourth Official: Daniel Middleton

Stats

Accrington have won 60% of their away games.

They have an average of 1.6 goals scored in away games, 0.3 above the League One average of 1.3.

Stanley conceded an average of 1.0 goals in away games, 0.3 over the League average.

In both home and away games, Accrington have scored the bulk of their goals in the last fifteen minutes. In away games, they've scored 3 times in the last fifteen minutes which is often the sign of a very fit squad.

Squad News

Town have no new injury worries.

Accrington captain Seamus Conneely remains doubt because of a groin problem.

Summary

Looking at the form of Accrington is certainly a concern, John Coleman seems to have his team well drilled and fit as fiddles meaning they'll be full of confidence and counting the minutes until the next game. That's where we come into the equation, will we be the next victims of the Accrington steamroller? Hopefully not, as we've seen we can keep hold of some of the better teams in the division, as our draws at Doncaster, Portsmouth and Walsall suggest. We are really going to have to work hard to get anything this weekend but there is certainly enough talent in our squad to get something out of most games.

Match Reports

MATCH REPORT: Shrewsbury Town 1 Accrington Stanley 0

6 October 2018

Town earn a 1-0 victory against 10 men Accrington Stanley.

Town: Joel Coleman, Josh Emmanuel, Mat Sadler, Omar Beckles, Shaun Whalley, Lee Angol, Alex Gilliead, Luke Waterfall, Josh Laurent, Ollie Norburn, Anthony Grant (Fejiri Okenabirhie, 60).

Subs: Steve Arnold, Kieran Kennedy, Greg Docherty, Fejiri Okenabirhie, James Bolton, Lenell John-Lewis, Ryan Barnett.

Stanley: Connor Ripley, Callum Johnson (Offrande Zanzala, 66), Mark Hughes, Michael Ihiekwe, Jordan Clark, Scott Brown, Sean McConville, Sam Finley (Jonny Maxted, 15), Nick Anderton, Daniel Barlaser, Billy Kee.

Subs: Jonny Maxted, Ben Richard-Everton, Liam Nolan, Offrande Zanzala, Connor Hall, Rosss Sykes, Piero Mingoia.

Referee: Andy Woolmer

Assistants: Mark Jones and Adrian Waters

Fourth official: Daniel Middleton

Attendance: 5353 (240)

Shrewsbury Town got their second league win of the season with a victory over Accrington Stanley.

Alex Gilliead put Town in the lead against 10 men Stanley in the 62^nd minute, which proved a fatal goal for the visitors.

Team News: Town make one change to the starting line-up that will face today’s visitors Accrington Stanley. Josh Laurent starts in the middle of the park and Kieran Kennedy features on the bench ahead of the injured Aaron Amadi-Holloway.

First-Half:

The first 10 minutes started similar to many previous Town fixtures, with both teams battling it out in the middle of the park to retain possession. Anthony Grant and Josh Laurent were doing well to physically impose them selves on the game.

In the 15^th minute Stanley keeper Connor Ripley was shown a red card by referee Andy Woolmer. The keeper rushed from his line towards the on-coming Lee Angol, missing the ball and flattening Town’s striker – denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity.

The subsequent free kick was blocked well by the Stanley wall and Angol’s volley just went wide of the mark.

After the red card Town were the team in the ascendancy. Grant was doing well to spray the ball around the pitch, creating chances for Askey’s men. Alex Gilliead and Shaun Whalley were also being a constant threat to the visitor’s fullbacks, but Town couldn’t break the deadlock.

Town had a golden opportunity to take the lead in the latter stages of the half. Whalley delivered in a lovely driven cross into the box, but neither Angol nor Laurent could get a solid connection to knock the ball into the net.

Both sides went into the half-time break equal on the score-sheet. Stanley did well to stifle Town’s attacks, leaving Askey’s men resorting to long-range efforts.

Second-Half:

Town came out of the starting blocks with attacking intent. A lovely counter-attacking move started by Josh Laurent nearly saw Gilliead take an early lead for Town. A good block from Stanley saw the ball fall to Ollie Norburn, but the midfielder’s effort whispered past the post.

Former Town player Jordan Clark was shown a yellow card in the 53^rd minute for a late challenge on Norburn in the middle of the park.

Grant was also given a yellow card shortly after for pulling down the Reds number eight Scott Brown.

Town finally broke the deadlock in the 62^nd minute through Gilliead, after pilling consistent pressure on the Reds defence. A perfect crossed delivery from Whalley found the midfielder at the back post and Gilliead headed the ball into the top right hand corner of the goal, giving Jonny Maxted no chance.

Michael Ihiekwe was booked for the Reds in the 70^th minute. Norburn lofted a good through ball towards Okenabirhie, but the Reds defender fouled the forward as he looked to break towards goal.

Whalley was also booked shortly after for stopping the Reds from counter-attacking.

Town were very much the side in the driving seat as the game neared the final 10 minutes. Whalley and Okenabirhie were working well together to trouble the Stanley defence.

Whalley was inches away from putting the tie to bed in the 86^th minute. Whalley broke down the right flank and let off a shot towards Maxted, the winger’s effort beat the keeper but narrowly went the wrong side of the woodwork.

Sean McConville was shown a yellow card towards the end of the half for simulation in the Town box.

The game ended 1-0 on the score sheet as Town earn a victory at home against Accrington Stanley.

Match Reports

Standings