Stanley out to change habits
SHELDAN KEAY
ACCRINGTON Stanley manager John Coleman admits that his side’s form reflects that of a team in the relegation zone - and it needs to be turned around immediately.
A frustrating period for Stanley continued on Tuesday when they lost 2-1 at home to Wycombe, going alongside their 1-0 defeat to Rochdale on Saturday, and the 2-0 home defeat to Barnsley the week prior. It means it is now three defeats in a row for Coleman’s men.
The Reds boss is unhappy with how things have gone recently, and he is urging his players to get back to their best and start performing like they did earlier in the campaign.
“We’ve got two points out of eighteen, that’s not good enough, it’s relegation form. You get into a rut and you find a way not to win games,” he said.
“We need to turn it around quickly because before you know it you end up plummeting down the league. Wycombe are above us now, but I don’t know how.
“There wouldn’t have been a better opportunity to get three points than against Wycombe on Tuesday. That’s gone now, but we’ve got to put things right the next time we play.
“Winning and losing can be a habit so we need to get out of the bad spell. We’ve got to believe in ourselves and have to strive to be better. I’m confident we’ll do that.”
Stanley will have a break from league action on Saturday when they compete in the second round of the FA Cup against Cheltenham.
Accrington reached the second round after picking up a 1-0 home win over Colchester United in round one last month, with Dan Barlaser getting the only goal of the game.
This weekend’s opponents Cheltenham have found things tough so far this season, with the team sitting in 22nd place in the League Two table, just one point above the relegation zone.
They reached the second round stage after overcoming Ebbsfleet United in round one. The two teams initially drew 0-0 at Ebbsfleet, before Cheltenham then ran out 2-0 home winners in the replay, thanks to goals from Tyrone Barnett and Alex Addai.
Accrington could only manage a draw the last time they played Cheltenham at the Wham Stadium, with the two teams drawing 1-1 last September. Coleman’s men did manage to pick up a 2-0 away victory in the reverse fixture later that season though.