Sykes swoops to secure KO phase
CHECKATRADE TROPHY STANLEY......................... 2 WEST BROM U21S......... 1 SHELDAN KEAY
STANLEY qualified for the knockout stages of the EFL Trophy after scoring a stoppage time winner against West Brom U21.
Goals from Jordan Clark and West Brom’s Jonathan Leko had the scores level heading into the dying moments, before Ross Sykes netted during the last few seconds to ensure his side came out on top.
Stanley boss John Coleman was pleased to come out on top, and felt that his side were deserving winners at the Wham Stadium.
“We wanted to win the game, but I was quite looking forward to penalties myself to wanted to break that sequence.
“I thought we played well enough to win as we had made countless chances and their goalkeeper has made some good saves.
“We were a bit wasteful in front of goal but we scored two smashing goals.
“I was disappointed with the goal we conceded but in the main we were good value for the win.”
Accrington made a number of changes for the game, but it didn’t stop them from coming quick out of the blocks as the game got underway.
Sean McConville had a shot saved from goalkeeper Jonathan Bond, before Connor Hall had the ball in the back of the net before it was ruled out for offside on 12 minutes.
West Brom had an opportunity of their own when Nick Clayton-Phillips fired wide, but Accrington remained the stronger side as Charman and Matt Platt both threatened.
Despite the chances, it remained goalless at the break, but Stanley made the breakthrough when Clark netted on 49 minutes.
He got on the end of a pass from Charman, before slotting past the goalkeeper to make it 1-0 to the hosts.
The Reds couldn’t hold onto their lead though as Leko levelled things up just after the hour mark.
A cross from ClaytonPhillips eventually fell to Leko at the far post, with the forward bundling the ball over the line to equalise.
Stanley pushed forward as they looked to restore their lead, with Scott Brown and Hall both having chances, but it looked like the game would head to penalties.
The hosts ensured that wouldn’t be the case, as Sykes headed home the winning goal in stoppage time to earn his side a 2-1 victory.
VIEW FROM THE CLAYTON END
WE should have won the game on Saturday. We came away with a point against a side trying to make history, in a massive ground with thousands more fans than us and it felt like we’d got beat.
In the grand scheme of things, of course it’s a good result but we missed ample opportunities to put the game beyond them.
Clark in the first half really needs to bury that chance, all he has to do is keep it on target but it goes begging, I despair. Mingoia’s rustiness showed in his second half effort. If he makes it 2:0 it’s goodnight Coventry and we’re all coming home singing his name on the coach. Alas, maybe another time.
I thought Ripley could have done better with their goal as he pushes it straight into the most dangerous of danger areas for the captain to tap in. Their fans were ecstatic and celebrated the goal like a winner, they wanted that record and I felt we’d be on the back foot for the remaining minutes.
All credit to the lads and Clark gets the last chance of the game and not a Coventry player. The keeper rushed out well but that’s three times we should have had the ball back in the net. Cue 93rd minute winner scenes in the away end, carnage at its best.
There’s been a few comments about us taking 300 online this week, nothing new to be the butt of the jokes when it comes to travelling away. In relation to our home crowd we go away in huge numbers. Don’t be ashamed to be part of that ‘small following’. We’ve earned our right to be sat at the Ricoh Arena as Champions and that’s what fans of opposition clubs are jealous of. We saw it with Luton a few weeks ago, we’ve become a scalp for these teams after being superior last season and they don’t like being turned over by the lads from the milk advert.
McConville is back on Saturday which is most welcome.
That’ll mean back to the bench for Piero I imagine but he’s shown us he can slot in well when necessary. Other than that the team’s looking sharp.
How cool is Mark Hughes on the ball?
He looks so calm at the back against so called better calibre opposition it’s like watching Maldini waltz around (queue mistake that leads to goal this weekend).
Zanzala strikes again and continues his good form in front of goal from recent weeks. He’s odd to watch because he never looks as though he’s got control of the ball, sort of sprinting along awkwardly with the ball flying from side to side. I can’t put my finger on it. But if he keeps scoring and being a handful for defenders then that’s all that counts. That smile when he scores is incredible as well, just makes me want to hug him.
We also played on Tuesday night against, wait a minute, no. Nobody cares about a game against an under 21s team. It devalues us as a club. I wouldn’t shun a trip to Wembley my any means. But, imagine if our first trip there as a club was to face Stoke Under 21’s? Rub a bit of a shine off it, wouldn’t it?
FA Cup this weekend then and a thoroughly uninteresting tie (what we’ve come to expect as a Stanley fan over the years) in my eyes but a stern test all the same. Let’s hope to get through and bag a kind draw in round 2 to set up a nice trip to a big boy in January. All the best, see you Saturday.