Stanley pull off FA Cup upset
EMIRATES Accrington FA 1-0 CUP Ipswich THIRD ROUND STANLEY........................... 1 IPSWICH TOWN .............. 0
ACCRINGTON Stanley moved into the fourth round of the FA Cup after overcoming Championship side Ipswich Town at the Wham Stadium on Saturday.
Billy Kee got the only goal of the game after 76 minutes to help his side come out on top at the Wham Stadium and knock Ipswich out of the competition.
It sets up a clash in round four against either Southampton or Derby County, and Reds boss John Coleman was delighted to earn a victory in the third round.
“The lads have worked hard, we have been on a bit of a slump in the league with back-to-back defeats, but we haven’t been playing badly, just not putting the ball in the net,” he said.
“Billy took his chance, it’s something we have worked on in training and I am delighted for the lads.
“The finances from a cup run, and a good draw, can change this club not only for this season but next season too.
“It means we can strengthen for this season.”
Stanley had chances in the opening stages of the game, with Sam Finley forcing a save out of Ipswich goalkeeper Bartosz Bialkowski after 12 minutes.
The Ipswich stopper was called into action again a few moments later to deny Jordan Clark, while Callum Johnson fired a long-range effort wide.
The Accrington defence was playing well to prevent Ipswich from any major opportunities, with the visitors restricted to shots from distance, including an attempt from Jon Nolan which went over the bar.
Stanley almost took the lead on 39 minutes when Clark shot from inside the box, but Bialkowski pulled off a superb save to ensure the score remained goalless at the break.
Ipswich were better in the second half, with Connor Ripley called into action to keep out an attempt from Nolan, while the Stanley goalkeeper also had to be alert to prevent a Ben Richards-Everton header going into his own goal.
The breakthrough finally came for Coleman’s men on 74 minutes when Sean McConville was fouled 25 yards out by Jordan Spence.
He dusted himself off and took the free kick himself, with Kee getting on the end of it to head home and make it 1-0.
Accrington defended well in the closing stages to ensure they got the win, with Ripley making a good save to deny Freddie Sears and Ross Sykes producing a fantastic last ditch tackle to cut out an Ipswich attack.
It meant that the home side held on to earn the victory and book their place in the next round, with that tie against either Southampton or Derby County set to take place later this month.
The defeat for Ipswich means that they haven’t won an FA Cup match since the 2009-10 season, and their manager Paul Lambert branded their current predicament as a ‘disgrace.’
“The club is in a bad patch, it is not a bed of roses, and I won’t put up with it and will make changes in the transfer window,” Lambert said.
“It’s not good enough for this club. It’s a disgrace what has happened here to a big club.
“I need half a dozen players and have been chatting to a couple. I need players who know what is needed to play in the Championship. Players need to step up to the plate.”