ACCRINGTON STANLEY travel to Brentford this afternoon, looking to thrash away memories of both, Saturday’s 3-0 drumming to Lincoln City at The Fraser Eagle Stadium and last months fixture with Brentford, which was called off just an hour before kick off, leaving 900 travelling Bees fans, not the least bit happy.
Brentford go in to the game with Accrington on a high, going unbeaten through their last six, winning four of them. Last weekends victory over Barnet left Brentford securely in midtable, seven points ahead of struggling Stanley.
Wins against Barnet, Mansfield, Chesterfield and Shrewsbury, will no doubt see the Bees go into the game brimming with confidence, having only dropped four point in their last six games, with draws against Notts County and Shrewsbury.
Accrington however is the complete opposite. With only one win in their last six, away to Chester City, John Coleman’s boys will need to show incredible team spirit to pull together if they are going to stand any chance of grabbing three points at Griffin Park.
Defeats against Lincoln and Wycombe, have left Accrington Stanley with the worst home form in the Football League, losing 10 of their home fixtures. And that on top of away defeats to Darlington and Peterborough and a goal difference over these six games reading -13, a figure which doesn’t make pleasant reading for the Stanley faithful.
Brentford’s Last Six:
Barnet 1 – 2 Brentford
Brentford 1 – 1 Shrewsbury
Mansfield 2 – 3 Brentford
Brentford 0 – 0 Notts County
Brentford 2 – 1 Chesterfield
Shrewsbury 0 – 1 Brentford
Accrington’s Last Six:
Accrington 0 – 3 Lincoln
Chester 2 – 3 Accrington
Accrington 0 – 2 Wycombe
Darlington 1 – 0 Accrington
Peterborough 8 – 2 Accrington
Stockport 2 – 0 Accrington
Stanley haven’t met Brentford since way back in March 1960, when The Bees came out on top in a close and thrilling encounter at Stanley’s Old Peel Park, and following last months cancelled match, both sides will be eagerly anticipating the game.
Keep the faith Stanley!
John Coleman on Stanley’s defence…
‘We have to get more resolute at the back, that’s the key to our problems.
‘We’re conceding too many cheap goals and we need to settle down the back four a little bit.
‘Maybe I’ve been guilty in the past. If we’ve had a bad result or I’ve been disappointed with a defender, I’ve changed things but maybe I need to be a bit more patient with the defence and let them build up an understanding.’
Brentford Town Team News:
Brentford go in to the game without influencial midfielder Gary Smith, who will sit the game out through suspension, following his red card against Barnet in midweek.
Kevin O’Connor is the only injury worry for Brentford, who is not included in the squad for the game after picking up a hamstring injury, Craig Stone is set to keep his place in the Bees starting line up.
Player to watch: ——
Accrington Stanley Team News:
Striker Leighton McGiveron and defender Robbie ‘Rocky’ Williams, will sit the game out through injury.
McGivern has been struggling with his niggling knee injury, that is taking longer than expected to get back to full strength.
Williams misses out through a knee injury, whilst skipper Peter Cavanagh misses out aswel and is still recovering from his hernia operation.
Goalkeeper Kenny Arthur could return in net for Accrington today, after playing in the Reserve string throughout the last few weeks and John Coleman faces a late decision on wether to bring the big Scot back in to the first team. Arthur has been out with a broken leg since October.
Young goalkeeper Martin Fearon isn’t named in the 18-man squad to travel to the game, for the first time since October.
Stanley from: Dunbavin, Arthur, Richardson, Edwards, Thomas, Doughty, Branch, Webb, Roberts, Harris, Whalley, Procter, Todd, Mullin, Craney, Mannix, King, Grant.
Player to watch: Shaun Whalley
Fantastic performance on Tuesday evening at The Fraser Eagle Stadium, despite the 3-0 loss. The youngster managed to create a number of chances and will be a real danger to the Brentford backline.
Match Prediction:
Brentford 1-1 Accrington (Mullin).
