‘Let’s make no bones about, we’ve been beaten by their reserves’
SALFORD CITY STANLEY
ACCRINGTON Stanley crashed out of the EFL Trophy after they were beaten away from home against League Two Salford City.
The Reds took the lead through Sam Finley, but goals from Cameron Burgess and Tom Elliott earned Salford the win and knocked Stanley out of the competition at the quarter-final stage.
It means Accrington have missed out on the chance to get to Wembley, and manager John Coleman was frustrated to come up short.
“You have to take the disappointment. Congratulation to Salford, they battled hard and defended well second half. We didn’t deserve to lose but we didn’t deserve to win against Fleetwood, so it’s swings and roundabouts,” he said.
“We haven’t been able to find the target with our shooting. A lot of our attempts got blocked and we’re hesitant, then we’re capable of making ridiculous mistakes.
“They’ve been near our goal three times, having a header saved and then the two goals. We pinned them back for 35 minutes in the second half and they didn’t get out their half much, but they defended resolutely.
“Let’s make no bones about it, I’m playing my first team and they made eight changes so they’re playing their reserves, and we’ve been beaten by their reserves.
“Whether we deserved to or not, that’s the harsh reality. It’s a blow to our pride, and my players have got to suffer for it.”
Stanley fielded a strong side for the game at the Peninsula Stadium, while Salford made a number of changes to the side that featured in their last league match. eron Burgess, whose header looped past Bursik and into the net to make it 1-1 at the interval.
It got worse for Coleman’s men, as the Ammies took the lead on 49 minutes.
Ex-Stanley loan player Luke Armstrong sent a cross into the area, allowing Tom Elliott to drill the ball home and make it 2-1.
Stanley did their best to get back in it, with goalkeeper Bursik even taking a free kick 20 yards from the Salford goal just after the hour mark, but his effort was wide.
Finley almost added a second on 78 minutes when his strike went narrowly past the far post, and Pritchard also fired off target.
Sykes and Seamus Conneely had late attempts for Accrington but it wasn’t to be, with Salford holding on to secure the 2-1 win and knock Stanley out of the competition.