Paul Cooks wait for a win drags on as Stanley drew 2-2 against Southend. The day could have been much worse for Stanley though, with Padraig Amond scoring at the death to give Accrington another well-earned point.
My Accrington Stanley Blog!
Monday, 12 March 2012
Wednesday, 7 March 2012
Thursday Round-up
2 draws in the last two games has ended Paul Cook's losing streak and also put stanley an edge closer away from relegation this season.
3/3/2012 - Port Vale (H)
Saturday's game against cash strapped Port Vale was a scrappy affair with the stanley team going 1-0 down in the 28th minute to a mistake by goalkeeper nicholls, on loan from wigan athletic. On the stroke of half time Coid's long range effort fell to Amond who manged to smash the ball over the line to end Paul Cooks long wait without a goal. The second half proved to be similar to the first, with Port Vale scoring again in the 56th minute only to be cancelled out by a strike from substitute Will Hatfield who had only been on the pitch 3 minutes to end Accrington's 4 game losing run.
I thought the Port Vale game showed good spirit by the team and the point felt like a win to me. The only problem I thought was the team struggled to dominate in midfield. Maybe the loss of Proccy is showing? His height and Passion certainly influenced and helped the other players and I think we're missing a battler in centre midfield to get the ball down and break up the opposition. I also think that Charlie Barnett is more effective on the wings than in a more defencive midfield role, at one moment in the game Barnett nearly created a goal on the left flank with Amond header flicked over the bar by the Vale keeper.
6/3/2012 - Bradford City (A)
Will Hatfield saved Stanley again as a substitute scoring in the 1st minute of added time to give Accrington another point against Bradford. A first half entailed a balanced and evenly sided game with both sides testing the oppositions keeper, but neither did prevail. Unfortunately for Stanley 5 minutes in to the second half the yorkshire side took the lead with Nahki Wells scoring his 7th league goal of the season, despite this Accrington kept battling hard and in the 91st minute luck turned their way. Luke Joyce's long corner found Hatfield at the far post and volleyed it pass the line.
Overall
Two battling performances this week would have settled the team and pleased Paul and assistant Leam Richardson especially with the amount of injures to key players such as Winnard, Hessey, Hughes and Craney. The playoff situation is still mathematically possible but I think that's very unlikely now. looking at the recent performances a mid-table finish awaits us, which I'll happily take now.
Paul Cooks red and white army!
J
3/3/2012 - Port Vale (H)
Saturday's game against cash strapped Port Vale was a scrappy affair with the stanley team going 1-0 down in the 28th minute to a mistake by goalkeeper nicholls, on loan from wigan athletic. On the stroke of half time Coid's long range effort fell to Amond who manged to smash the ball over the line to end Paul Cooks long wait without a goal. The second half proved to be similar to the first, with Port Vale scoring again in the 56th minute only to be cancelled out by a strike from substitute Will Hatfield who had only been on the pitch 3 minutes to end Accrington's 4 game losing run.
I thought the Port Vale game showed good spirit by the team and the point felt like a win to me. The only problem I thought was the team struggled to dominate in midfield. Maybe the loss of Proccy is showing? His height and Passion certainly influenced and helped the other players and I think we're missing a battler in centre midfield to get the ball down and break up the opposition. I also think that Charlie Barnett is more effective on the wings than in a more defencive midfield role, at one moment in the game Barnett nearly created a goal on the left flank with Amond header flicked over the bar by the Vale keeper.
6/3/2012 - Bradford City (A)
Will Hatfield saved Stanley again as a substitute scoring in the 1st minute of added time to give Accrington another point against Bradford. A first half entailed a balanced and evenly sided game with both sides testing the oppositions keeper, but neither did prevail. Unfortunately for Stanley 5 minutes in to the second half the yorkshire side took the lead with Nahki Wells scoring his 7th league goal of the season, despite this Accrington kept battling hard and in the 91st minute luck turned their way. Luke Joyce's long corner found Hatfield at the far post and volleyed it pass the line.
Overall
Two battling performances this week would have settled the team and pleased Paul and assistant Leam Richardson especially with the amount of injures to key players such as Winnard, Hessey, Hughes and Craney. The playoff situation is still mathematically possible but I think that's very unlikely now. looking at the recent performances a mid-table finish awaits us, which I'll happily take now.
Paul Cooks red and white army!
J
Friday, 24 February 2012
Good luck Paul Cook!
Coleman's departure shocked everyone. I don't think any Accrington fan could picture the dugout without John screaming at the linesman and arguing with the 4th official. It became his club. He was the God of the Crown Ground, the king. So when he decided to leave for Rochdale a month ago the first question was who on earth could replace him? A man who improved on last years league position for 12 consecutive years, 3 promotions in the process and brought us back to the football league in 2006. Massive shoes to fill.
After Richardson's brief interim manager role, Paul Cook was named manager just over a week ago. Paul Cook was a key part to the Stanley team that won promotion in 2005/06. He was very much John and Jimmy's 3rd man. More recent, he managed Sligo Rovers in Ireland and brought them much success, both in the league and cup. Even earning them a Europa League spot on a tight budget, he was Stanley's no.1 target and very early became the bookies favourite.
Since his appointment Stanley have lost both games (0-4 Plymouth, 2-0 Crewe) and our next game is Swindon away, who have won their last 7 games on the bounce. Cook couldn't have asked for a worse start. Hopefully we can pull of a shock on Saturday and push for that play-off position! I'm sure Cook will be the right man but needs time to adjust and bring in his players. Time will only tell....
Josh.
After Richardson's brief interim manager role, Paul Cook was named manager just over a week ago. Paul Cook was a key part to the Stanley team that won promotion in 2005/06. He was very much John and Jimmy's 3rd man. More recent, he managed Sligo Rovers in Ireland and brought them much success, both in the league and cup. Even earning them a Europa League spot on a tight budget, he was Stanley's no.1 target and very early became the bookies favourite.
Since his appointment Stanley have lost both games (0-4 Plymouth, 2-0 Crewe) and our next game is Swindon away, who have won their last 7 games on the bounce. Cook couldn't have asked for a worse start. Hopefully we can pull of a shock on Saturday and push for that play-off position! I'm sure Cook will be the right man but needs time to adjust and bring in his players. Time will only tell....
Josh.
Saturday, 4 February 2012
GAME OFF.
Todays game against Crewe Alexandra has been postponed due to a frozen pitch.
I was really looking forward to this one! Two good teams and it would have been a very close match! I was also planning on bringing my mate to his first accrington game so it has messed my day up a bit!
On a more general note I would like to write about how league 1/2 clubs are struggling to keep the games on. Obviously in such a low economic time every business will take an hit, even football clubs. The problem that the lower clubs have got is they cannot afford undersoil heating or whatever stuff that keep the pitch warm. Some clubs struggle to even afford plain covers to go over the pitch! It is extremely rare to see a premiership postponement now and even most championship sides have good enough pitches to fight against the club. No football fan likes to see games being called off and I think that the FA should put some funding into the lower league clubs for that purpose. Its starting to feel like the prem and championship are storming on ahead while the lower leagues are just left to fend for themselves.
On another note, I WILL start writing a match preview & post match reaction again on all the stanley games.
J.
I was really looking forward to this one! Two good teams and it would have been a very close match! I was also planning on bringing my mate to his first accrington game so it has messed my day up a bit!
On a more general note I would like to write about how league 1/2 clubs are struggling to keep the games on. Obviously in such a low economic time every business will take an hit, even football clubs. The problem that the lower clubs have got is they cannot afford undersoil heating or whatever stuff that keep the pitch warm. Some clubs struggle to even afford plain covers to go over the pitch! It is extremely rare to see a premiership postponement now and even most championship sides have good enough pitches to fight against the club. No football fan likes to see games being called off and I think that the FA should put some funding into the lower league clubs for that purpose. Its starting to feel like the prem and championship are storming on ahead while the lower leagues are just left to fend for themselves.
On another note, I WILL start writing a match preview & post match reaction again on all the stanley games.
J.
Sunday, 15 January 2012
Game to forget..
Awful performance. The players just didn't turn up yesterday. We could have played all night and not scored. Stanley were shocking.
The pitch didn't help. It was completely iced up at one side of the pitch meaning we struggled to play our passing game. The referee was a joke, took him 40 minutes to award us a foul and looked incredibly biased to the away side. But the main reason we lost was that we didn't play well. Barnet were better in every department. They won every second ball, controlled the game and put their chances away. The less said about this game the better, hopefully we can pick something up against Aldershot.
Team Rating - 5/10
Stay positive.
Josh.
The pitch didn't help. It was completely iced up at one side of the pitch meaning we struggled to play our passing game. The referee was a joke, took him 40 minutes to award us a foul and looked incredibly biased to the away side. But the main reason we lost was that we didn't play well. Barnet were better in every department. They won every second ball, controlled the game and put their chances away. The less said about this game the better, hopefully we can pick something up against Aldershot.
Team Rating - 5/10
Stay positive.
Josh.
Friday, 13 January 2012
Lets keep this run going....
Barnet are Accrington's opponents tomorrow afternoon with Coleman hoping to keep our current 10 games unbeaten run going. I can remember going to Barnet in September last year, a boring 0-0 game with neither side creating much. All i can really remember from that game was Craney's shot that went just wide, that was Stanley's only shot all game.
Barnet were without their top striker McLeod that day. Who is the top scorer in league 2 this season. Barnet find themselves in 20th place this season, very much the same as last season for them Spending most of the year glaring at the relegation zone.
I'm certainly not afraid of Barnet. To be honest, I'm quietly confident about what the result will be. As long as we can get the ball down as pass it around we should take the points. The players must have confidence running through their blood at the moment. With Stockley and Long now back at there parent club. Maybe its time for Bender and Guthrie to step up. I have seem much of Bender, apart from his head injury in the JPT. Guthrie really impressed me in Pre-season. I also thought he played well against Northampton. It was a struggle for him earlier in the season as we weren't creating chances either.
Let's hope of a great performance and another 3 points!
Josh.
Barnet were without their top striker McLeod that day. Who is the top scorer in league 2 this season. Barnet find themselves in 20th place this season, very much the same as last season for them Spending most of the year glaring at the relegation zone.
I'm certainly not afraid of Barnet. To be honest, I'm quietly confident about what the result will be. As long as we can get the ball down as pass it around we should take the points. The players must have confidence running through their blood at the moment. With Stockley and Long now back at there parent club. Maybe its time for Bender and Guthrie to step up. I have seem much of Bender, apart from his head injury in the JPT. Guthrie really impressed me in Pre-season. I also thought he played well against Northampton. It was a struggle for him earlier in the season as we weren't creating chances either.
Let's hope of a great performance and another 3 points!
Josh.
Saturday, 7 January 2012
E I E I E I O....
You all know the words. After a wonderful 2-0 victory over Burton (away from home as well!), I think this chant will be heard in the Clayton End very soon! We are now 9th in the table and only 2 points away from the playoff positions. On 39 points from 25 games, we are really looking strong and picking up the points, Big game on Saturday, Barnet at home. Like to think we'll get 3 points there. I thought we were certain for relegation this season, after losing Mcconville, Ryan, Cisak, Edwards, Jacobson and Gornell.
3 Words.
Coleman. Is. God.
Bring on Saturday!
josh.
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