Accrington Stanley Season Preview: cup specialists

Accrington Stanley performed well in the cups last season and finished just five points off the play-offs. Even though the club did not quite scale the heights of 15/16, there was still much to be proud of. Supporter Sarah Knight reflects on the campaign.

The club did perform well early in the season with the cups matches which secured a game against West Ham in the 3rd round of the EFL Cup after a spectacular and nail biting penalty shootout win over Bradford City and an extra time victory score by Matty Pearson over the local Premier side Burnley. The team went on to perform well against West Ham and only conceded in the 96th minute to a free-kick on the edge of the penalty area which was a difficult defeat to take after such a good performance. Other aspects in last season’s performances to be proud of is the team’s 15 game unbeaten run late in the season which helped the club to create a late but fighting chance of reaching he play off. This involved some spectacular performances from a number of players such as Shay McCartan who exceeded when it came to taking free-kicks on the edge of the penalty area.

You only lost three games after Boxing Day. How important were the performances of McCartan and Sean McConville in that run?

The performances were important in that late season run and as already mentioned helped to give the club a good chance of reaching the play offs. With both of these players you always knew at the start of the match they would put 100% effort into the game. McConville consistently worked hard created and went for chances as well as assisting in creating chances for other players. His performance in the cup matches was exceptional and of course he scored a goal in the 2-1 win against Luton Town which was voted the best goal of the FA Cup third round by the BBC audiences. McCartan again worked hard and seemed hungry for goals. His ability to turn free-kicks into goals was exceptional overall scoring 11 goals in 39 appearances for the club. We of course wish him all the best with his new club Bradford City.

Just to mention … there is an amusing YouTube clip of Shay McCartan and Janoi Donacien at The Wham Stadium doing a football challenge which is worth a watch.

Goalkeeper Marek Rodak kept eight clean sheets in 20 games after joining in January. What are your chances of getting him back from Fulham?

It would be good to have him back given the part he played in our late run in the season. His debut game against Cheltenham Town was quite a tough start for him given the 3-0 loss when the club was close to the relegation places but he went on to provided some impressive saves such as in the match against Plymouth which helped the club continue an unbeaten run of 12 games and push towards the play offs. His confidence grew with each appearance and he was an asset to the team.

We sometimes find non-league schooled centre-backs want to clear their lines. Are you impressed therefore, with the composure and intelligence Omar Beckles has shown in possession?

I am impressed with Beckles composure and intelligence which fits with the style of games played by the team. When watching him during matches his moves seem so effortless and calm but there is no doubt of the skill involved which he executes well. His height is also an asset and I genuinely feel he contributes and complement our defence. He certainly creates chances for the team and marked up 3 goals this season. I think the fans will overlook the error he made in our league game against Luton Town when he headed the ball back to Rodak which resulted in an own goal for the performance he put in and in scoring the vital goal ironically against Luton Town when he headed home a goal just after half time to secure a win sending the club into the 4th round of the Emirates FA Cup and picking up the club a substantial amount of prize money.

Versatile defender Matty Pearson chipped in with a respectable eight goals last year. Do you admire the wide array of qualities he has?

Pearson is an asset to the team he is versatile and a definite team player. He always puts in a good performance by setting up and creating changes for other team players such as Sean McConville. And of course I must mention his performance and the last minute goal he scored in extra time against the local Premier League side Burnley was just fantastic and one he is surely proud of!

Many fans were content with the list of players released. Are you relieved that the club has not had to let as many players go as it did last summer?

I think this is the first time in quite a while the club has been able to retain so many good players therefore not having to start from scratch which I think will help the team/club going forward this season. We have a good mixture of players who are committed and eager for success and a chance at promotion.

Equally, you’ve only signed three players at the time of writing. Does the club put itself at a disadvantage by doing business late in the summer every year?

You could quite easily argue it does but I’m not sure. I think there both pro’s and con’s to this and I don’t know the reasoning’s behind the club/managers decision in this respect whether it is for practical reasons or there is a strategy behind the decision made. However I am pleased with the signings so far and we have recently had another couple of signings during the pre-season matches which I think will strengthen the squad. It is the balance of strengthening the team to motivate players to be chosen to make league appearances and stand in at the time of injuries but not to have good players on the bench who do not get a game and I think this is an area Coleman has reflected on from last season.

One player who has joined is midfielder Liam Nolan, who has good reviews from Southport. Are you surprised he wasn’t given a longer-term deal?

I can only go from the information provided in respect of signing and whether this was the decision of the club or the player about the length of the deal. From the information available I understand Colman had been wanting to sign Nolan for a while which on that basis you would have thought a longer term deal would be better… it does depend on who is keeping their options open and who will benefit from the length of the deal the club or personal career perspective?

51% of your shots last year were from outside the area – the joint-highest percentage in League Two. Does that show the quality of your long-range shooting, or that more creativity is needed?

I must admit I’m surprised by that statistic as it didn’t seem they were taking long range shots last season although I can recall a couple of successful long range shots both taken by Sean McConville including the one mentioned earlier. There needs to be a mixture and I can only leave this down to the professional skill and judgement of individual players plus the training including reflection on what is successful for the team. At the end of the day it is continuously reviewing the cycle of improvement which I’m sure is done during training sessions on the field and reviewing footage of matches to gain further learning for the players and team.

Billy Kee has been your top scorer for the last two seasons, having scored 30 league goals since joining in 2015. Do you expect him to be your main man again?

I think he will but at the end of the day it is a team sport and I believe we have a number of good players in the squad who are equally as skilled and hungry for the team to be successful. Kee is a valued member of the team and works hard during matches by taking and creating chances for other players to score goals. Fans are roundly pleased to see forward Jonny Edwards return on loan from Hull.

With Terry Gornell leaving, do you expect him to get more of a look in this time around?

I would hope so. Edwards didn’t have many appearances last season given we had a settled team but on the occasions he did play he showed promise and definitely potential scoring his first league goal in the away game against Doncaster. I have watched him play in the pre-season matches and have been impressed by his performances and his hunger to succeed during which he scored in our 2-3 defeat against Preston North End which was an impressive goal.

What are your thoughts ahead of the League Two season as a whole? Any potential dark horses for you?

I think we have some good existing talent in the squad who we have retained for this coming season who play well as a team. On the other hand we have also lost a number of good players from last season and we wish them all the very best. In the pre-season matches there have been a number of trialists which have since been signed who show potential and bring different qualities to the squad which I’m sure will complement the overall team. As for dark horses I don’t tend to single out individual players as each player is as good as each other for example a goalkeeper is only as good as his defence given it is a team sport. As long as they work together and build on each other’s strength they will succeed… this skill is getting the right combination of players to achieve this which is down to the knowledge and skill of the coach and manager.

Where will you finish?

I think we have a good squad and given we have retained players from last season gives the team stability with a scattering of fresh hungry talent with the last couple of signing made by Coleman. I would like to say automatic promotion but there are some strong clubs in League 2 nevertheless I feel we can hold our own. If we don’t make the play-offs I think mid table upwards.

The Football Lab’s Verdict

McConville should pose a threat from range for Stanley and Beckles looks a composed centre-back. McCartan and Rodak may be missed though as Coleman is once again asked to work 11th hour miracles in the non-league market. 18th

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