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Remember that 80-year record? Possible five away wins in a row; seems a long, long time since the heavens opened and no one bothered to tell match official Carl Boyeson, who called the original fixture off at just after 13.30, allowing some of the travelling faithful to catch the delights of Blackburn FC!
Since then the teams form has swapped around a touch to the extent that the home side are now odds-on favourites to take the points, that wasn't the case back on Saturday, February 12th, when we were on a good run of form that carried on for a couple of weeks until the sorry month of March and one win from six games played over that period, and four defeats!
Where did all start to go wrong? It's not rocket science. A knackered squad, too many injuries, and nobody coming in on loan for whatever reason, poor show and manager Paul Sturrock has been let down by the board badly, again, for whatever reason.
Still, the remaining games must be played but it will be interesting to see how many decide to pass on renewing season cards when the extra £50 will be just going into yet another Uncle Ron black hole.
The lads did OK against Aldershot, and updated reports have young striker Harry Crawford suffering a nasty cut just above his nose which required seven stitches, so he's a major doubt.
Alex Woodyard certainly looks very promising, Ricky Duncan's under-18's coming through continue to be the one real bright light in the gloom of Roots Hall. that and the surprise return of Bilel Mohsni, though he actually did pick up a broken nose!
However dull the goalless draw with the Shots was at times, the antics and wholehearted display of the French Tunisian was always a joy to behold.
I'll be happy with a draw in this one.
Possible Southend United: Morris, Clohessy, Coughlan, Mohsni, Barker, Ferdinand, Grant, Woodyard, Hall, Sturrock, Corr.
Subs: Evans, Nesbitt, Comminges, Stephens, Bouzid, Soares, Asante.
COME ON YOU BLUES!!!!!
OPPOSITION
Stanley boss John Coleman has no new injury or suspension problems and could play the same eleven that started the 3-1 victory over Northampton Saturday, (report and team below), which kept their unbeaten home record intact since they last lost on January 18th!
Defender Kevin Long came on at half-time in that game after recovering from a broken toe which had kept him out for a large part of the season.
Player to watch
Terry Gornell
Joint top scorer with 12 goals in 36 league games, not a bad striking rate, but the same number as Sean McConville and Phil Edwards.
Player details here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terry_Gornell
Last time Out
Home - Accrington Stanley 3 Northampton Town 1 (played on Tuesday, February 1st, 2011.)
Report: www.accringtonstanley.co.uk/index.php?main=stats/report.php&id=849
Beeb highlights here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_3/9445328.stm
The Stanley side v the Cobblers: Cisak, Winnard, Edwards, Hessey (Long 46), Jacobson, Procter, Joyce, Ryan, Craney, McConville, Gornell.
Reds could be top seven by the end of the evening
| 6 | Torquay United | 40 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 36 | 22 | 6 | 9 | 5 | 31 | 25 | 16 | 14 | 10 | 67 | 47 | 62 | +20 |
| 7 | Gillingham | 40 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 24 | 15 | 5 | 10 | 5 | 32 | 30 | 15 | 16 | 9 | 56 | 45 | 61 | +11 |
| 8 | Accrington Stanley | 39 | 12 | 4 | 3 | 44 | 22 | 3 | 11 | 6 | 17 | 28 | 15 | 15 | 9 | 61 | 50 | 60 | +11 |
| 9 | Port Vale | 40 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 23 | 17 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 22 | 25 | 16 | 12 | 12 | 45 | 42 | 60 | +3 |
| 10 | Rotherham Unite | 40 | 9 | 7 | 4 | 38 | 24 | 7 | 4 | 9 | 29 | 29 | 16 | 11 | 13 | 67 | 53 | 59 | +14 |
| 11 | Oxford United | 40 | 10 | 2 | 8 | 28 | 22 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 24 | 30 | 16 | 8 | 16 | 52 | 52 | 56 | 0 |
| 12 | Crewe Alexandra | 40 | 11 | 5 | 4 | 44 | 16 | 4 | 5 | 11 | 32 | 42 | 15 | 10 | 15 | 76 | 58 | 55 | +18 |
| 13 | Aldershot Town | 40 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 20 | 22 | 5 | 10 | 5 | 22 | 24 | 12 | 17 | 11 | 42 | 46 | 53 | -4 |
| 14 | Southend United | 39 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 31 | 27 | 6 | 4 | 9 | 22 | 21 | 14 | 10 | 15 | 53 | 48 | 52 | +5 |
| At Accrington S. (2) | At Southend Utd. (3) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Results | Total | % | Results | Total | % | |
| Accrington S. | 1 | 50.00 | Southend Utd. | 2 | 66.67 | |
| Southend Utd. | 1 | 50.00 | Accrington S. | 0 | 0.00 | |
| Draws | 0 | 0.00 | Draws | 1 | 33.33 | |
| Goals | Total | Av.pg | Goals | Total | Av.pg | |
| Accrington S. | 3 | 1.50 | Southend Utd. | 11 | 3.67 | |
| Southend Utd. | 4 | 2.00 | Accrington S. | 4 | 1.33 | |
| On Neutral Ground (0) | Overall (5 matches) | |||||
| Results | Total | % | Results | Total | % | |
| Accrington S. | 0 | 0.00 | Accrington S. | 1 | 20.00 | |
| Southend Utd. | 0 | 0.00 | Southend Utd. | 3 | 60.00 | |
| Draws | 0 | 0.00 | Draws | 1 | 20.00 | |
| Goals | Total | Av.pg | Goals | Total | Av.pg | |
| Accrington S. | 0 | 0.00 | Accrington S. | 7 | 1.40 | |
| Southend Utd. | 0 | 0.00 | Southend Utd. | 15 | 3.00 | |
| Records | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highest Aggregate | 7 | Southend Utd. | 6 - 1 | Accrington S. | 1959/1960 |
| Highest Accrington S. score: | 3 | Accrington S. | 3 - 0 | Southend Utd. | 1958/1959 |
| Highest Southend Utd. score: | 6 | Southend Utd. | 6 - 1 | Accrington S. | 1959/1960 |
| Season | Date | Home | Score | Away | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010/2011 | Sat 13 Nov | Southend Utd. | 1 - 1 | Accrington S. | League Two |
| 1959/1960 | Sat 26 Mar | Accrington S. | 0 - 4 | Southend Utd. | Third Division |
| Sat 07 Nov | Southend Utd. | 6 - 1 | Accrington S. | Third Division | |
| 1958/1959 | Sat 07 Mar | Southend Utd. | 4 - 2 | Accrington S. | Third Division |
| Fri 17 Oct | Accrington S. | 3 - 0 | Southend 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.
The works to the Coppice Terrace should have been completed last month, well before the Shrimpers visit, 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.)
TICKETS
Unsurprisingly, it's pay on the day only for standing & sitting, for just a fiver!
Full details here:
www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/feat/edw9/
accrington_stanley_tickets_644176/index.shtml
WEATHER
Oh no! Heavy Rain! But a warm 10c's for the evening.
REF
The man in the middle is David Webb from, er, Lancashire.
A full interview with him here: http://refworld.com/referee/186/1/david-webb.
His assistants are Simon Bennett and Darren Bond; The fourth official is Jeremy Simpson.
FIXTURES
League Two
Tuesday, April 5th; (all kick-offs 19.45): Accrington Stanley v Southend, Burton Albion v Northampton, Hereford v Wycombe, Macclesfield v Bradford,
Friday, April 8th: Macclesfield v Accrington Stanley, 19:45.
Saturday, April 9th; (all kick-offs 15.00): Aldershot v Shrewsbury, Barnet v Crewe, Bradford v Torquay, Cheltenham v Rotherham, Hereford v Chesterfield, Lincoln City v Gillingham, Morecambe v Burton Albion, Northampton v Bury, Oxford Utd v Wycombe, Port Vale v Southend, Stockport v Stevenage.
BET
Accrington Stanley (to win) - 4/5, Draw - 11/4, Southend (to win) - 19/5.
By Train go here:
www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/feat/edw7/accrington_stanley_644104/index.shtml
By Coach go here:
www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/feat/edw3/accrington_stanley_606035/index.shtml
PUB AND PIES
For 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_664318/index.shtml
SOMEWHERE TO LAY YOUR HAT
For an overnight stay:
By Coach go here:
www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/feat/edw3/accrington_stanley_606035/index.shtml
PUB AND PIES
For 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_664318/index.shtml
SOMEWHERE TO LAY YOUR HAT
For an overnight stay:
www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/feat/edw1/
accrington_stanley_645171/index.shtml
HISTORY
Accrington 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)
accrington_stanley_645171/index.shtml
HISTORY
Accrington 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)