Watching brief for Coleman on cup weekend
JOHN Coleman’s team enjoyed a rest at the weekend as the Stanley boss took the opportunity to do a little scouting around the lower leagues.
It was FA Cup weekend but with the Reds knocked out of the competition last month at Tranmere, Coley was keen to fill his time rather than dwell on the early exit from the competition.
“I went to watch a player in the lower leagues,” he said.
“I didn’t watch the FA Cup draw but I was delighted for Marine and Morecambe, they had great draws. I know it’s tempered by the crowd, but they will still have some crowd at Marine and it will be a special day for them.
“I’m absolutely delighted for the club, it will generate some much needed income in these times of austerity and that’s what the FA Cup is about, that’s what the romance is all about.
“I’m disappointed we went out to Tranmere, and I think they would probably have liked a better draw than Barnsley away – but we have to concentrate on the matters in hand for us.
“The lads needed the rest, it’s been quite hectic. There have been a couple of long away trips and quite a tough game against Crewe here at home.
“The games are going to come thick and fast over Christmas and we have got to be prepared.”
Coleman’s men were due to play Shrewsbury on Wednesday evening as the Observer went to press, and the manager said he preferred Tuesday fixtures.
“I don’t like playing on Wednesday, it upsets the rhythm of what you are doing and gives you a day less to prepare for the Saturday game but we have to deal with the hand we are dealt,” he said.
Heading into the clash, the Reds had kept five consecutive league clean sheet and were ninth in the table, with games in hand. They had lost just three of their 11 league games of the season up to that point.
“You can’t get too carried away with statistics, you have got to keep going day to day and the most important thing is winning games,” said Coleman.
“You can see the lads have got the bit between their teeth, not so much to keep a clean sheet but to win the games. I would like us to be taking more of the chances we are creating though.”
There was bad news and good news on the injury front ahead of the midweek game.
Newcastle loan midfielder Mo Sangare had just returned from a hamstring injury but unfortunately suffered a recurrence in training, ruling him out until the new year.
“Mo had an unfortunately slip and reactivated the hamstring injury so he will be out for a couple of months.
“He is a cracking lad and was in tears and I feel for him but I know he is a strong character and he will battle his way back.”
Chelsea’s Tariq Uwakwe should be back in the frame though after a knee injury has kept him sidelined.
“Tariq trained yesterday which is good so hopefully he will be in contention.”
Shrewsbury’s new manager, former Burnley boss
Steve Cotterill, was taking his first league game in charge as he took over from Sam Ricketts last week.
The Shrews were second from bottom with one league win so far going into Wednesday’s fixture – though they are through to the third round of the FA Cup.
“I have seen quite a lot of them, they are not a second from bottom team that’s for sure,” said Coleman.
“They still have the same players so we know how those players will play.
“Steve might tweak a few things and change formations or patterns of play but the same players are still there and we know what their strengths are and we have to come up with a plan to try and negate them.”