Source: FOOTYMAD
The S24 Preview: Accrington Stanley v Southend United
It's been 50 years since we last visited the town of Accrington, and a Shrimpers win over Stanley on Saturday, February 12th, kick-off 15.00, would take them close to the play-off zone. v SHRIMPERSThe lads will be looking to win their fifth consecutive away game which would break a 80-year old record, I expect an article from DoDtS the moment the game finishes if it happens! Blues boss Paul Sturrock will be without the influential Bilel Mohsni who is not expected to be seen until around Easter, if at all this season. Bugger!Bring on Mark Phillips then to liven up the side, which Luggy has promised, and I would also play Graham Coughlan moving Chris Barker to left back. Sorry, Peter Gilbert, someone has to punish you for that miss last week, horrible! Winger Ryan Hall can start his possible farewell tour by picking up another S24 m-o-m as well as scoring a hat-trick. OK, I'll pass on the latter, a brace will do.I would also play Lee Sawyer instead of Kyle Ferdinand, not to punish Kyle but the poor kid is only 18 and probably knackered after his Croatian travels, he played a full game on Tuesday and the last 15 minutes on Thursday to win his second Irish under-19 cap, and then gets into Accrington Friday. No, give the boy a break, and Lee has looked good in his cameo appearances so far, captain Craig can play a more defensive role. So that leaves Kyle Asante, will Luggy play his wild card. Yes, he should. If top scorer Barry Corr is injured he shouldn't start, if he's just lost form, he still shouldn't start.You promised changes, let's go with the young man, barry has always looked hungry coming on a sub anyway!Away win, 2-1!Possible Southend United: Evans, Clohessy, Phillips, Coughlan, Barker, Sawyer, Grant, Easton, Hall, Sturrock, Asante. Subs: Morris, Herd, Ferdinand, Comminges, Soares, Corr, Crawford.COME ON YOU BLUES!!!!!OPPOSITIONAccrington are searching for their first win in three games. They've scored the same number of goals as the Blues but have let in five more having played two games less. All very interesting, possibily.Stanley boss John Coleman has no new injury or suspension problems and could play the same eleven that started the 2-2 draw with Stevenage (report below) after having had a full week off a la Southend.Midfielder Jimmy Ryan limped out of the game with a hamstring problem but has been training with the first team squad this week. One long term absentee is defender Kevin Long, who is recovering from a broken toe. Player to watch Terry GornellTop scorer with 12 goals in 22 league games, not a bad striking rate.Player details here:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terry_GornellLast time OutHome - Accrington Stanley 1 Morecambe 1 (played on Tuesday, February 1st, 2011.)Report: www.accringtonstanley.co.uk/index.php?main=stats/report.php&id=836 Away - Stevenage 2 Accrington Stanley 2 (played on Saturday, February 5th, 2011.) Report: www.accringtonstanley.co.uk/index.php?main=stats/report.php&id=83710Southend United 285361921635181311611373439+311Cheltenham Town 295351615565242610910404139-112Torquay United 2653522194631915998413436+713Stevenage 27582231633610118118332735+614Northampton Town 27752241423810239810343735-315Aldershot Town 284351216475172081010293634-716Lincoln City 274371122616172010413284234-1417Accrington Stanley 26543241828413217127373933-218Morecambe 28474191742716238911354033-519Bradford City 28616151333911249415263731-11PREVIOUSLYAt Accrington S. (2)At Southend Utd. (3)ResultsTotal%ResultsTotal%Accrington S.150.00Southend Utd.266.67Southend Utd.150.00Accrington S.00.00Draws00.00Draws133.33GoalsTotalAv.pgGoalsTotalAv.pgAccrington S.31.50Southend Utd.113.67Southend Utd.42.00Accrington S.41.33On Neutral Ground (0)Overall (5 matches)ResultsTotal%ResultsTotal%Accrington S.00.00Accrington S.120.00Southend Utd.00.00Southend Utd.360.00Draws00.00Draws120.00GoalsTotalAv.pgGoalsTotalAv.pgAccrington S.00.00Accrington S.71.40Southend Utd.00.00Southend Utd.153.00RecordsHighest Aggregate7Southend Utd. 6 - 1Accrington S.1959/1960 Highest Accrington S. score:3Accrington S. 3 - 0Southend Utd.1958/1959 Highest Southend Utd. score:6Southend Utd. 6 - 1Accrington S.1959/1960 SeasonDateHomeScoreAwayCompetition 2010/2011Sat 13 NovSouthend Utd.1 - 1Accrington S.League Two 1959/1960Sat 26 MarAccrington S.0 - 4Southend Utd.Third Division Sat 07 NovSouthend Utd.6 - 1Accrington S.Third Division 1958/1959Sat 07 MarSouthend Utd.4 - 2Accrington S.Third Division Fri 17 OctAccrington S.3 - 0Southend Utd.Third Division GROUND Although the ground is on the smallish side, it is set in a picturesque area, with views over fields and hills behind the Coppice Terrace at one end of the ground. On one side of the ground is the Main Stand, which at first glance looks like one stand, but in fact it is comprised of two small stands; the Main & Thwaites Stands. They sit on either side of the half way line, with an open gap between the two. Both are all seated covered stands and have a row of floodlights at the back of them. To compensate for the fair slope of the pitch which runs up along the ground from the Coppice Terrace to the Sophia Khan End, the Thwaites Stand has less rows of seats than the Main Stand. Both these stands also have an usual array of tubular steelwork, running across the top of them. Opposite is a very small covered seated area, called the Whinney Hill side. This former terrace had seating installed before the start of the 2009/10 season, in order that the Club could meet Football League stadium criteria of having a minimum of 2,000 seats (further seating was also into the Sophia Khan End). Behind this stand is a relatively new housing development, which overlooks the ground, meaning that some residents can see the game for nothing. Both ends are fairly new looking affairs, of which the home end, the Sophia Khan Stand covered, whilst the Coppice Terrace opposite is open to the elements. The Sophia Khan Stand looks a little odd, with a terracing at the rear, but with seating at the front, especially when you consider that the stand is quite a small structure. Another unusual aspect of the ground is that it has a total of eight floodlight pylons, with three on either side of the ground and another being located at one end.The Club are currently increasing the capacity of the Coppice Road away end, by extending the terrace. This will mean that the overall capacity of the terrace will be raised to 1,800. This will further help Stanley comply with Foottball league capacity criteria for grounds.Photos and more details of the works can be found on www.accringtonstanley.co.uk. It is hoped that works to the Coppice Terrace will be completed for the visit of Southend United, we shall see.If not we'll be in the Whinney Hill terrace at one side of the pitch.The facilities in the Coppice were basic with some rather old toilets (which have known to flood from time to time!) There are supplemented with some portaloos. As the away end being uncovered this can lead to a lack of atmosphere, with the Blue Voice's finest just not being carried around the ground.(Thanks to www.footballgroundguide.com for stadium information.) TICKETSIt's pay on the day only for standing & sitting. Full details here: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/feat/edw9/accrington_stanley_tickets_644176/index.shtmlWEATHERSunny intervals and 7c's, spring is here! Heavy showers forecast overnight which could affect the playing area, check those studs!REF The man in the middle is Carl Boyeson from East Yorkshire. A full interview with him here: http://refworld.com/referee/128/1/carl-boyeson.His assistants are Simon Bennett and Darren Bond; The fourth official is Jeremy Simpson. FIXTURESLeague TwoFriday, February 11th: Burton Albion v Chesterfield, 19:45. Saturday, February 12th; (all kick-offs 15.00): Accrington Stanley v Southend, Aldershot v Macclesfield, Barnet v Torquay, Bradford v Wycombe, Cheltenham v Hereford, Crewe v Gillingham, Lincoln City v Morecambe, Oxford Utd v Rotherham, Port Vale v Northampton, Shrewsbury v Stevenage, Stockport v Bury.BETAccrington Stanley (to win) - 7/5, Draw - 5/2, Southend (to win) - 11/5. For all the footy odds go here: www.oddschecker.com/football/english/league-two/TRANSPORTBy Train go here: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/feat/edw5/accrington_stanley_618334/index.shtmlBy Car go here: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/feat/edw7/accrington_stanley_644104/index.shtmlBy Coach go here: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/feat/edw3/accrington_stanley_606035/index.shtmlPUB AND PIESFor the best drinking around the ground and in the town go here: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/feat/edw8/ride_the_grey_horse_pub_crawl_in_accrington_644707/index.shtmlSOMEWHERE TO LAY YOUR HATFor an overnight stay: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/feat/edw1/accrington_stanley_645171/index.shtmlHISTORYAccrington had been without a football team following the collapse of the original Accrington Stanley in 1966. The original team had been formed in 1891, and played in The Football League from 1921 to 1961; it had spent its final four seasons in the Lancashire Combination. In a meeting in the town library in October 1968 the revival was started and in August 1970 the new club played at a new ground, the Crown Ground. Since their formation, Stanley have climbed the non-League pyramid to reach The Football League. Eric Whalley, a local businessman, took control of the club in 1995 and started the development of the club's ground. After the club was relegated in 1999, Whalley appointed John Coleman as manager. In 2005-06, Stanley won the Football Conference and were promoted to League Two, switching places with relegated Oxford United - in a reversal of fortune, the team that had been elected to replace the former Accrington Stanley as members of the Football League in 1962.(For a more comprehensive history of the club, go here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accrington_Stanley)
