Mallik’s mental battle
ACCRINGTON Stanley manager John Coleman says striker Mallik Wilks needs to overcome his mental battle in front of goal.
Wilks hasn’t scored in his last three Stanley matches, including the 2-1 home defeat to Blackpool in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday.
The striker had several opportunities in that game but couldn’t find the net, and Coleman believes he is overthinking the situations and that is affecting his mind-set.
“It’s a mental battle. Mallik is in the mode at the moment where every time he’s one on one with the goalkeeper it goes through his mind that he’s missed the last one,” said Coleman.
“That’s four one on ones on the bounce that he’s now missed, and as a striker I know how he feels, and nobody will be hurting more than him.
“He’s got to keep going though and can’t be scared to get the one on ones, he needs to seize the opportunity and eventually they’ll go in and the luck will turn.”
One player that did get on the scoresheet for the Reds in midweek was Erico Sousa, with the midfielder initially levelling things up for his side before Accrington went on to find a winner.
Despite finishing on the losing end, Coleman was still glad that Sousa got on the scoresheet.
“I was pleased that Sousa scored,” he said.
“He tired a bit towards the end and we had to make the substitution, and that probably led to the Blackpool winner.
“It was a pity for Tom Dallison too as I thought he stuck to his task really well and it was just a pity that he got the groin strain at the end.”
Stanley will now look to bounce back from that EFL Trophy defeat when they host Luton Town at the Wham Stadium on Saturday.
It will be a difficult match for the Reds, as fifth-placed Luton have also started the season well and would leapfrog Accrington in the table if they get the win.
‘He’s got to keep going and can’t be scared to get the one on ones’