Accrington Web - Prediction League Game 16; Southend (away)

Southend Utd

Accrington Stanley

Prediction League – Game 16; v Southend (away)

What a roller-coaster few years; League One champions in 05/06; straight back down from the Championship after one season (22nd, 7pts behind the 21st placed side); 6th and 8th in League One in the next two years, and then down to League 2 at the end of last season – 23rd (above Stockport), 10 wins, goal difference of -21. With the salary cap in League 2 looming, their side was effectively decimated; skipper Adam Barrett to Crystal Palace, vice captain Alan McCormack to Charlton, player of the season Simon Francis released, keeper Steve Mildenhall to Millwall – the list went on and on; eventually manager Steve Tilson (recently appointed to the Lincoln job) was put on gardening leave, to be replaced the following day by Paul Sturrock; transfer embargoes and winding up petitions (sound familiar?) from October 09 until August 10; unable to sign players, except on pre-contract agreements; phew!

12 came in, plus 2 on loan, including the much-travelled (8 clubs) striker Blair Sturrock from Mansfield, signed by his dad for the third time (so what’s wrong with a bit of nepotism?); midfielder Louie Soares joined from Aldershot after 4 years there; 6’ 3” Irishman Barry Corr, a striker “in the Peter Crouch mould” (their words, not mine) joined after being released by Exeter; 31 year old midfielder Craig Easton signed from Swindon, having spent 2 and a bit seasons there, two at Leyton Orient, one at Livingston, and 8 years at Dundee Utd; captain there, and the U’s new skipper; keeper Glenn Morris, signed after 10 years at Leyton Orient; Sean Clohessy who followed 3 years at Gillingham with two years at Salisbury (including playing at our place in the FA Cup 1st Round game last season); 36 year old defender Graham Coughlan – one of many who has previously played under either Sturrock or Asst Manager Tommy Widdrington - signed from Shrewsbury; their squad contains lots of experience around the lower leagues, and lots of players the management teanm know well. Danger men, apart from Corr and Sturrock, are ex Chelsea midfielder Anthony Grant and Scottish striker Michael Paterson, signed in January from Southampton.
You’ll all know that we’ve not met them before; bragging rights available!

They’re still in the JPT (having beaten Gillingham on penalties – but who hasn’t beaten Gillingham (including us, Rotherham, and Dover in today’s Cup game) – and Barnet 3-1; they play Charlton in the Southern QF at home on Tuesday; out of the Carling 2-1 away at Wolves after extra time (respect!) having seen off Bristol City 3-2 in the First Round; still in the FA Cup after a 2-2 draw at Macclesfield on Saturday. As far as the League is concerned, their record at home is P7 W3 D1 L3 Goals F8 A10, while away they’re on P7 W2 D1 L4 GF7 GA7; overall, P14 W5 D2 L7 to sit 16th with 17 points and a goal difference of -2, 2 places and 1 point above us with a game in hand (their game at Cheltenham last week was abandoned due to floodlight failure with them losing 1-0). Their wins have come at home over Torquay (2-1), Lincoln and Rotherham (both 1-0) , and away 2-0 at Bradford and 3-1 at Hereford (before Hereford’s recent improvement in form). Main goalscorers (they have 24 in all competitions in 19 games) are Corr with 6, Grant with 5, Paterson with 4 and Sturrock with 3; 5 others have 1 each (plus one OG)

The deadline for entries is, as ever, scheduled kick-off time, which is 3.00pm on Saturday 13th November. We’re clearly back to form (errrmmm ….?) So; resounding triumph? Thumping victory? Out-Celtic Celtic? What’s so good about 9-0 anyway? Moody point? Battering? Who knows? Who cares? (We do!)

Good luck to everyone ………… and thanks for playing!

:signntme: