Accrington Web - 2011 Prediction League; Game 30 Oxford Utd (home)

Accrington Stanley

Oxford United

2011 Prediction League – Game 30; v Oxford Utd (home)

This week’s starter for 10; who’s the only Stanley player to have scored a League goal for the Reds against Oxford? Well, since we’ve only scored the one there could be many winners to the quiz, but for those with short memories it’s Peter Murphy :), who scored in the 1-1 draw at the Kassam Stadium earlier in the season …………….. As you all know, our record against them since we first played yo-yos in 62 and again in 2006 is P3 D3 (two nil-nils last season and the 1-1). Curiously, their record against us is identical ………..:rolleyes:

They’ve suffered a double blow, losing striker Tom Craddock (25) for at least a month with a hamstring and his forward partner Alfie Potter (23) for the season with a broken ankle, so it’s no great surprise that their ventures into the loan/transfer market have nearly all been up front. That said, it’s been that way most of the season, starting with the loan of Middlesbrough’s Jonathan Franks, who was injured before kicking a ball in anger, went back, to be replaced by Bury’s winger Andy Haworth (22), who in turn got injured and went back (he’s now at Bradford City on loan), to be replaced by Blades’ striker Danny Philliskirk – who’s now gone back to Bramall Lane (are you still following this? :o). Also in (and out again) came MK Dons’ ex Doncaster striker Lewis Guy (for two loan spells, although he’s now been released and is currently clubless :() and West Ham’s 18 year old striker Robert Hall – who got 6 in 10 games in his first spell :) and none in four on his second :p.

Out have gone full back Ben Purkiss (27), signed from York, released, and now with Hereford, as is left-sided midfielder Simon Clist (who’s been there on loan since August); Deane Smalley (23), signed from Oldham in the summer, now plies his trade on loan at Bradford (having only managed two goals in 26 games for Oxford), and midfielder Josh Payne joined the Shots on loan during the transfer window. Oklahoma-born striker John-Paul Pittman, ex Donnie and Wycombe (who you may remember manager Chris Wilder signing in the summer and the club then sending straight out to Crawley on 3 months’ loan) came back, and scored in his first game – against Crawley! :D

Recent additions are prolific hitman Scott Rendell, who at the age of 25 has been with Aldershot, Crawley, Cambridge, Posh and Wycombe (he played at our place when we got a one-all draw in September 2010 with a 94th minute Rory Boulding equaliser) plus loan spells at the Pirates and Oxford; “seasoned pro” (= “getting on a bit” :p:p) Mark Wilson (32), a midfielder from Doncaster; former Norwich and Stockport forward Oli Johnson (24); and 6’ 3” Australian u20 striker Matthew Fletcher, once of Sunderland.

They departed the Cups fairly smartly, beaten 3-1 at home by Cardiff in the Carling, 3-0 by the Blades in the FA Cup, and 1-0 at home by Southend in the JPT (although they did manage to beat Aldershot 2-1 away in Round Two - I don't count the Bye in Round One); scored 3, conceded 8, money made – not a lot! Their League form is odd – they lost all 5 of November’s games :mad:, but overall stand at 11 wins, 10 draws and 7 losses from their 28 games, which gives them 43 points and 7th place, keeping us from the playoff spots on goal difference only.:mad::mad::mad:

They’re not terribly prolific; 5-1 at home to Plymouth, and 3-0 at home to Bristol Rovers and away at Aldershot; otherwise it’s none, one or two (they’ve hit nil seven times). That said, they don’t concede by the hat-full either; 4-1 at Crawley, 3-1 to Cardiff and Cheltenham at home, and Crewe away, and 3-0 at Sheff Utd, so two of the four times they’ve let in 3 have been to League 1 or Championship sides; 10 clean sheets, including all four of their December matches :cool:. In all competitions they’ve played 32 times, scoring 42 and conceding 36; in the League, it’s 39 for, 28 against; their away form is slightly more productive from a points point of view – 22 away (6 wins and 4 draws) against 21 at home (5 wins and 6 draws).

Leading scorers are striker James Constable, once of Walsall, Kidderminster and Shrewsbury – although not all at the same time – with 9 (his tally for the last 3 seasons has been 25, 26 and 17), mid fielder Peter Levin (Kilmarnock, Chesterfield and the MK Dons) with 6, and the afore-mentioned Robert Hall, also with 6; 12 others have contributed to the total.

The deadline for entries is, as ever, scheduled kick-off time, which is 3pm on Saturday 11th February. So ; here’s one where the bragging rights are up for grabs! Big win? :D Thumping loss? :( Ten goal thriller? :p A goal for anyone? Hat-trick for Murph? :) Certainly time for another Stanley win ……..Your call ……………

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

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