Pell’s proving point in lifting Reds up table
HARRY Pell was a man with a point to prove after coming off the bench to score the match-winning goal in Stanley’s 3-2 victory against Wycombe Wanderers at the weekend.
The central midfielder admitted he’d been frustrated by his failure to make the starting XI in recent weeks and wanted to show boss John Coleman he was not there to ‘make up the numbers.’
Pell proved that by coming on as a second half sub against the Chairboys with the Reds trailing 2-1.
He set up Ross Sykes for Stanley’s second equaliser of the afternoon before heading home the decisive goal midway through a much-improved second half.
The win came as a welcome response to backto-back 2-0 losses at Cambridge and Doncaster last time out.
“On a personal note, I’m delighted to be able to come on and help the team with an assist and a goal like that,” he said.
“It was a great finish from Ross, he’s getting a few goals now to be fair.
“I was just determined at half time to come on and make a difference, and prove a point really – luckily enough it paid off, I got my nut down and worked hard and first and foremost for everyone it’s three points.
“We’d had two losses and needed a reaction – first half we were a little bit flat but there was a bit of personality in the second half and I thought Josh Woods who came on was terrific, his running in behind made such a difference. He was a ball of energy, so congratulations to him.
“The manager wasn’t happy at half time, but to be honest he hasn’t been happy the last two games and from a personal point of view I was really frustrated not to be starting this game and made the gaffer fully aware on Friday I was champing at the bit. When he chucked me on at half time, if anything, I just wanted to prove a point to him.”
Pell was particularly pleased to be able to repay boss Coleman for the point lost at Rotherham last month when he missed a late spot kick seconds after a supporter had run onto the pitch and confronted him.
“I lost the team a point single-handedly by missing a penalty at Rotherham – it had nothing to do with a fan running on the pitch, I missed anyway,” said Pell.
“So it was nice to get the points back for the boys, back for the boss and back for the club.
“That was the first thing I said to the gaffer after the game “I owed you that,” so I’m quite happy with that!”
And while Pell has been frustrated by his omission from the starting XI recently, he acknowledges the Reds management team know how to utilise him best.
“I think the management team know how to get the best out of me and I’ve been champing at the bit for a couple of weeks now, I’ve been very frustrated to be honest,” he said.
“I needed that chance just to show I’m not here to make the numbers up, I’ve got goals in me, I know I can score goals and I thoroughly enjoy playing in this team.
“I had the bit between my teeth and was just ever so determined to make a difference.
“We’ve got a great team and a great squad. If you look in the centre of the park there are seven, possibly eight central midfielders who can all play there, some good talent. I’ll push them all the way and even the younger boys coming though know the standards we have to keep to stay in the team. I want to push on with this club and help them up the table.”
The 3-2 win against Wycombe made it eight unbeaten at home – but form on the road has been another story, one that Pell and his team-mates will look to put right this weekend when they travel to Fratton Park to take on Portsmouth.
“Away from home our record is very poor and I think that’s why we’re so frustrated,” he said. “It’s something we definitely need to address because our home form is very good.
“We’ve been working hard on the training pitch and we’ve had a few chats about it – we know the stats and we know they don’t swing very well away from home. That needs to change.
“I can’t exactly say why it is – I’m sure if we could we’d change it. We just have to get our heads down and work hard for the rest of the season and see where it takes us.”
Pompey sit one place above the Reds in 11th on 48 points – Stanley are two points behind having played two games more.