Two second half goals by Grant and Amond clinched the points for Stanley, who recorded their first back to back home wins of the Cook era. A first which saw a impressive Stanley side dominate and had several chances to put the game to bed before the half way stage. These chances included hitting the woodwork and Amond having a 1 on 1 chance with their keeper. The second half saw stanley open the scoring within 90 seconds, Grant curling the ball past Hereford keeper Cornell to snatch his 2nd goal since the start of his loan from Scunthorpe. Ten minutes later Hereford won a free-kick around 20 yards out. Will Evans' shot took a huge deflection which wrong-footed Ian Dunbavin to put Hereford right back in the game. With the time ticking and both teams looking tired it looked as though the game would finish a draw until a late surge of pressure from the home side. Toto Nisala's cross found Padraig Amond who headed home with 5 minutes to go.
8 - Dunbavin - Didn't have too much to do but did well when called upon. A harsh deflection for Hereford's goal meant that he could do little to stop it.
8 - McIntyre - A good solid performance in which he supported the left wing and covered well at the back.
9 - Murphy - My MOM. Controlled the back 4 and made several key tackles and headers.
9- Toto (Nisala) - Strong performance and did incredibly well against Hereford's 'beefed' striker.
8 - Lindfield - Played well again. Another player who did what was asked and more.
8- Liddle and Joyce - Did very good in a midfield role. Played the ball about well and also closed the gaps at the back.
8- Barnett and Devitt - Used the wings and caused Hereford many problems, both looked up for it today.
9- Grant- Nice finish for the first goal and made mince meat of the Bulls defence.
9- Amond - A top striker, could of scored an hat-trick on another day.
Hereford team rating - 5/10
Looked a poor side in all honesty. Started quite well but never looked like scoring after the first 25 minutes. Their goal from the free-kick took a deflection giving the keeper no chance. Didn't deserve to go home with anything but so nearly did. After today's result they now find themselves bottom of the table and 3 points adrift from safety. I doubt Stanley will be making the trip to Edgar Street next season unless today's performance was just a blip, but their league position doesn't suggest that.
Stats:
Accrington Stanley Hereford United
Goals 2 1
Possession 64% 36%
Shots 19 7
Shots on Target 9 2
Corners 6 11
Fouls 6 6
My Accrington Stanley Blog!
Monday, 9 April 2012
Monday, 19 March 2012
Player Ratings for Northampton Game
Nicholls - 6 Not too much to do but did struggle with crosses, to blame their goal on him would be harsh. Hes only young and needs time.
Mclntyre - 7 Had a tough time dealing with a very quick winger but did quite well. Massive improvement since the beginning of the season.
Nisala - 7 Stayed solid and did his job effectively.
Kiernan - 7 Good debut for the player. Similar to Nisala in they both did a good shift in the centre of defence
Coid - 8 Really good performance from Coid. You can see his experience and has certainly made RB his own.
Joyce and Barnett - 7 Both did well in defencive midfield roles. Both players are filling in the gap left by Procter's departure.
Grant-7 Did have many opportunity's to impress on his return. Hopefully he can score a few goals before he returns to scunthorpe
Murphy - 7 Played okay. Linked up well with Devitt in the first half and caused Northampton a number of problems.
Devitt - 9 My MOM. Kept going the whole game and put 110% effort in. Scored a great goal and even though he may make the odd wrong decision, he always looks up for it. Top quality player.
Amond - 8 Despite his size and playing a lone striker role, he plays it magnificently. His effort and determination is second to none and is a really good player.
Rating system.
4= Doesn't deserve to wear the shirt.
5=Poor
6=Not bad
7=Okay
8=Good Performance
9=Stand out player
10= Better than Messi
Mclntyre - 7 Had a tough time dealing with a very quick winger but did quite well. Massive improvement since the beginning of the season.
Nisala - 7 Stayed solid and did his job effectively.
Kiernan - 7 Good debut for the player. Similar to Nisala in they both did a good shift in the centre of defence
Coid - 8 Really good performance from Coid. You can see his experience and has certainly made RB his own.
Joyce and Barnett - 7 Both did well in defencive midfield roles. Both players are filling in the gap left by Procter's departure.
Grant-7 Did have many opportunity's to impress on his return. Hopefully he can score a few goals before he returns to scunthorpe
Murphy - 7 Played okay. Linked up well with Devitt in the first half and caused Northampton a number of problems.
Devitt - 9 My MOM. Kept going the whole game and put 110% effort in. Scored a great goal and even though he may make the odd wrong decision, he always looks up for it. Top quality player.
Amond - 8 Despite his size and playing a lone striker role, he plays it magnificently. His effort and determination is second to none and is a really good player.
Rating system.
4= Doesn't deserve to wear the shirt.
5=Poor
6=Not bad
7=Okay
8=Good Performance
9=Stand out player
10= Better than Messi
Thursday, 15 March 2012
Murdoch leaves
Sean Murdoch has officially left Accrington Stanley by mutual consent. The Scottish goalkeeper struggled to gain the no.1 spot over Dunbavin and with the arrival of young keeper lee Nicholls (on loan from Wigan) he had drifted to 3rd choice keeper. Due to this it isn't surprising that Murdoch wanted to leave and is probably a good outcome for both sides.
My opinion of Murdoch wasn't great to be honest. He was a decent shot stopper but his positioning at times was poor. Due to his low amount of appearances I think that most people only remember his good points and not his bad. Dunbavin has been known to make mistakes, he's not perfect, but he looks more settled and took his oppertunity. Murdoch has had very few chances to impress but both managers (Coleman and Cook) have looked past him. If they don't think he's good enough then thats that.
My opinion of Murdoch wasn't great to be honest. He was a decent shot stopper but his positioning at times was poor. Due to his low amount of appearances I think that most people only remember his good points and not his bad. Dunbavin has been known to make mistakes, he's not perfect, but he looks more settled and took his oppertunity. Murdoch has had very few chances to impress but both managers (Coleman and Cook) have looked past him. If they don't think he's good enough then thats that.
Monday, 12 March 2012
Stanley just can't cook up a win..
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.
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.
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