Accrington Stanley vs Charlton AthleticSaturday 12th March 2022 - 3pm Kick-OffReferee: Simon MatherIntroductionOkay, okay... It was far perfect last Saturday against Sunderland, am sure many of us are still scratching our heads as to how the top scorer in the entire League missed, what was it; Three / Four attempts against a defence which still wilts whenever the referee signals for a set piece against us - We're out the other side of a tough run now, and we head to Accrington this Saturday with a gap of eight points between us and the drop zone. Tuesday night we were praying for Morecambe / Fleetwood defeats, our season summed up in one moment.
Jayden Stockley put it perfectly on Saturday... Its time to stand up and be counted!!
The OppositionName: Accrington Stanley (12th) | Manager: John ColemanGround: Crown GroundPrevious Meeting: Charlton Athletic 2-3 Accrington Stanley"Horrible, disgusting and like a Non-League team" were the words used by Sam Morsy when Ipswich travelled to Accrington earlier in the season - A player more used to playing at historic Championship grounds, and alongside Mohammed Salah for Egypt, than playing the likes of Accrington
He might be right by what he says, but Accrington must be doing something right... After all they're into their fourth season at this level, having won promotion in 2017/18 - In all those years they've never even looked like relegation candidates, they're a team that have constantly achieved mid-table. In short they've found a method of competing with some big teams at this level, it works, so deserve a lot of respect for that fact.
After all, in the three years that these two sides have faced off against each other, I cant think of a fixture that I had more than any other - Its not just that its going to be a scrappy game of Football, our 1-1 draw at the end of last season (another nail in our Play-Off hopes) had to be one of the worst games I've ever seen in recent years. But the fact that in the three years we've played them, we've only won on the one occasion; thanks to THAT last minute penalty from Karlan Grant in 2018.
Accrington themselves go into this fixture in a comfortable 12th place... I wouldn't be surprised if John Coleman is already having one eye on next season, hunting for the next Dion Charles or Colbey Bishop. The former might not be around anymore, but with both brought in from Non-League, its no surprise that their players come in with the thirst and desire to prove themselves.
Charlton Team NewsDont think there were many Charlton fans who didnt breathe a sigh of relief when they saw not just Jayden Stockley but Scott Fraser in the starting eleven on Saturday - Whilst neither were quite able to impose themselves against Sunderland (surely down to a lack of match fitness), they were important figures, especially Stockley in both boxes.
With a week to recuperate, we'll hopefully see both back in the starting line up once again, earning more minutes - Elsewhere and we wait to see on the fitness of Conor Washington, who is once again expected to be absent from the squad, Corey Blackett-Taylor on the other hand could return to the team having returned to full training, the speedy winger was finally found after having been misplaced in the wrong cupboard - Of course there will be one player available again: Sean Clare is back from suspension, and will surely compete with Chris Gunter for that last slot at Centre-Back.
MacGillivray
Lavelle - Pearce - Clare
Jaiyesimi - Dobson - Purrington
Lee - Fraser
Stockley - Leko
Substitutes Bench: Harness - Famewo - Gunter - Gilbey - Morgan - Burstow - John
PredictionI wouldn't be surprised after two / three games into our recent poor run, if people looked at this particular fixture as the end of our woes against opponents in League One, and saw it as an expectation to start winning again. I on the other hand advise caution; Accrington have always been a thorn in our side, and I once again see an ugly game played out in Lancashire... If we stick to our plan, and dont get into a scrap, we could well win.
Equally I fully expect to see another share of the spoils come 6pm on Saturday.
Comments
We’re going to win this one, 2-0 to Charlton.
but still a good preview
I might fancy a day out at this one.... ;-)
I think Gunter will hold his place on the left instead of Clare (who is right sided only!), especially after the clean sheet draw. Burstow to start again instead of Leko.
We can't let them do the double over us ffs...
Big Mac
Lavelle Pearce. Gunter.
Fraser. Lee
Stockley
Clair and Dobson helping to pick up the two behind the striker. Clair in midfield should also help Jay to get forward. None of these players are going to be physically intimidated.
Really hoping Washington is fit for the bench.
My prediction is we will play 3.5.2.
We will concede from a set piece and via a ball played in behind our right back..
Our wing backs will fail to cross the half way line.
We will offer zero in attack.
We will lose.
Just call it a weird premonition.
I'd go a bit different to what you've suggested:
MacGillivray - made some good saves so remains.
Clare - is back available so comes straight in at RCB.
Lavelle - needs to be made the anchor. Not quick enough at RCB.
Famewo - or Pearce at LCB is a tough choice and sadly not a good way. Looking at their attributes, Pearce defends better, Famewo is quicker... I think Accrington would get Pearce sent off so Akin comes back for me.
Dobson - King Dobbo stays, only consistent performer if he could add goals to his game, he could develop to be the perfect Jackson apprentice.
Jaiyesimi - We have no other right mid options other than pushing CM's out wide or playing Matthews/Gunter there.
Lee - Does more than Gilbey and can be replaced by Morgan. Morgan hasn't fallen behind him, but Lee has upped his workrate and improved dead balls lately.
Fraser - Our best midfield option. Praying he has not been Charltonised just yet.
Castillo - re-igniting the lopsided 3-5-2 with a more defensive side makes it easier for the defence to become a 4 when the opposition are in possession.
Stockley - Will likely break down again, but needs must.
Leko - Last chance saloon if he can't do a job alongside Stockley he may as well return to his club.
Bench:
Harness, Gunter, Pearce, John, Morgan, Campbell, Kanu
Accrington Stanley 1 v CAFC 1
But we do like a 1-1 draw at their place. Lavelle this time from a set piece.
Clare, Pearce, Famewo/ Lavelle
DJ, Morgan, Dobson, Fraser, ?
Stockley, ?
2-1 to Stanley.
Meh!
Not too much change and lots will depend on how CBT and Washington got through today.
Also do not understand changing a defence who just got its first clean sheet in over a month. Why would you do that?
Don’t want to see Castillo anywhere near this team again, another player who looks like he’s not sure what to do with the ball. Won’t be here next season, focus on being solid and getting to safety and finishing strong. CBT can come in for left-wing back when he’s ready.
Not sure what the deal with John actually is, was he brought in for U23 or to get used to training with first teamers? He’s only just turned 19 after all.
Going to be a battle and will need someone willing to run beyond and in behind players until Washington comes on, for that reason Gilbey has to start.
CBT just misses out with the view to being involved on Tuesday. One day on the grass after 4-5 weeks out with a hamstring is not a risk worth taking with someone with such raw speed.
MacGillivray
Lavelle Pearce Gunter
Jaiyesimi Gilbey Dobson Fraser Purrington
Burstow Stockley
Harness, Clare, Matthews, Lee, Morgan, Leko, Washington
Waste away the next few hours as we arrive around 1.30pm. I may go for a drink or decide to go straight into the ground and sit in solitude watching the mediocre dross warm up, wondering which of our midfield dynamos will start. Check twitter at 2pm, let out a sigh when I see Gilbey is starting. Spend the next 55mins alone with my thoughts, pondering if this is what purgatory looks like.
3pm kick off. 3.12pm goal Accrington Harry Pell. We have a corner on or around the 37th minute but manage to hold on and go in only 1 down at half time, a half full of lots of pointing from Gilbey and mistimed runs by Burstow as Morgan tries several Hollywood balls over the top.
4.22pm Stockley lashes out in frustration, we’re down to 10 men. Because Accrington aren’t that good they take their time to kill us off, but at 4.39pm they finally get their second and it’s 6 defeats in 7.
Back on the coach by about 5.05pm. Fidget, checking in between here for post match views and twitter to fire off a few angry tweets. Get triggered by Jason Pearce tweeting ‘we let you down, not the result we wanted today, but we’ll be working hard to put it right against Gillingham on Tuesday’. Watch Jackson’s post match interview with Minto on twitter, Jackson agitated, not looking into the camera complaining that we were in it until Stockley got sent off, references our corner in the 37th minute and tell us he hasn’t seen the Stockley incident yet to give an opinion, but it’s another blow and we go into another game on Tuesday without a senior forward. Minto nodding sympathetically for the 5 minute duration of the interview.
Finish watching that, check back on here for post match views. Someone says Purrington was okay and they think we should extend his stay as he’ll be good back up for next season.
More inane mutterings from my fellow lost souls as we slowly creep out of Lancashire, throwing around platitudes like ‘at least the season’s almost over’ and ‘we’ll probably get enough points to stay up’
8.45pm making good progress but coach drivers by law must change over. Enforced stop south of Northampton. I don’t need food but convince myself I need to sink £43.66 on BLT, coke and Cadbury whispa meal deal in WHSmith.
Get back on coach. Calculate how long it will take to hit the Dagenham & Redbridge roundabout as we come off the m11. Momentary hit of endorphins as I realise it’s only 15 minutes until we disembark. Mistakenly engage one of the fellow lost souls across the aisle to me because I am excited the nightmare is almost over. Realise it was a mistake within seconds as they want to talk about who we should keep in the summer and I’m suddenly sucked back into hell as I have to nod whilst they we should give Lee a permanent deal.
10.10pm, coach pulls up on the woolwich road. Polite goodbyes, and another 16 hours of my life dissipates into the ether