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Post by hatter_in_macc on Apr 17, 2024 23:18:59 GMT
Full house... check.
Trophy presentation... check.
First of two guards of honour... guessing so.
A winning end to our home schedule in this glorious campaign... hoping so!
Should be a great afternoon, whatever! Post it all here...
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Post by autistichatter on Apr 18, 2024 8:59:50 GMT
Alright, it's time to ask the Eternal Question: Accrington Stanley, 'OOO Are Dey?
Well for a start they are no longer run by John Coleman - he left back in early March after around 9 & 1/2 years in charge. In that time he W 200 D 128 L 183, which is no mean performance. When he was sacked the side were 16th but they currently reside in 18th place with a record of W 15 D 9 L 20 F 57 A 66. Their A record is pretty much bang in line with that - W 6 D 4 L 12 F 27 A 40, putting them in, well, 18th place in L2. They obviously have a goal or two in them but it's been defence, for the second season in a row, that has stymied them.
Those Ws are Newport (H) 3-0, Harrogate (H) 2-1, Salford (A) 1-2, Sutton (H) 4-1, FGR (H) 2-1, Grimsby (A) 0-2, MKD (H) 1-0, AFC Wombles (A) 2-4, Wrexham (H) 2-0, Walsall (H) 2-1, Salford (H) 3-0, FGR (A) 0-1, AFC Wombles (H) 2-0, Swindon (A) 1-2 and Newport (A) 1-3.
The Ds are Barrow (H) 1-1, Morecambe (A) 1-1, Donny (H) 0-0, Crewe (A) 3-3, Barrow (A) 1-1, Grimsby (H) 0-0, Cole U (A) 1-1, Notts (H) 2-2 and Crewe (H) 0-0.
The Ls are Gillingham (A) 1-0, Notts (A) 3-1, Mansfield (H) 0-3, Tranmere (A) 2-0, County (H) 1-3, Cole U (H) 0-1, Crawley (A) 3-1, Bratfut (A) 1-0, Swindon (H) 3-4, Harrogate (A) 2-1, Gillingham (H) 1-2, MKD (A) 2-1, Crawley (H) 0-1, Walsall (A) 2-1, Wrexham (A) 4-0, Bratfut (H) 0-3, Morecambe (H) 1-2, Sutton (A) 3-1, Donny (A) 4-0 and Mansfield (A) 2-1.
They scored 3+ just 7 times this term, being blanked 12 times. They conceded 3+ 10 times and kept 10 clean sheets. OK they got a double over AFC Wombles and a W over Wrexham but otherwise that's a modest record. Under their new manager, John Doolan, they have W 2 D 2 L 5 F 10 A 18, so they look vulnerable against a County side now playing something like it's best - which is obviously a prime recipe for a Banana Skin.
Their top scorer, on 14 is 22 year old Winger Jack Nolan, he's now played a total of 61 times for Accy as well as 13 priors with Walsall. Next on 8 is 23 year old MF Tommy Leigh (not to be confused with Tommy Lee, drummer for Motley Crue), he has scored 19 times in 84 total apps for Accy after spells at Bognor Regis Town (11 goals in 54 apps) and Baffins Milton Rovers (11 goals in 57 apps) who were managed by his dad - Altogether Now: AAAAH, How Sweet! Fellow MF Joe Prichard has 6 (16 goals in 102 career apps) as has Winger-cum-Striker Shaun Whalley, he has 7 goals in 66 total apps since joining in 2022, after spells at Shrewsbury (40 goals in 214 apps) and Southport (27 in 101 apps) and an earlier spell at Accy (5 in 51 apps).
Striker Josh Andrews scored 5 before leaving to join Gillingham back in March. MF Alex Henderson and D Brad Hills (39 apps on season long loan from Norwich) both have 3 goals. A further 4 players have bagged a brace and 3 more have each scored once.
They have a very young squad (average age just over 23) and, as you might expect, have a few players in on loan - Brad Hills mentioned above and fellow D Lewis Shipley (23 apps) both on loan from Norwich, and fellow D Joe Gubbins (20 apps on season long loan from QPR) all at the back. In January Man Utd's 6ft 6 GK Radek Vitek signed on loan until the end of the season, he has made 5 apps), he was followed by Wrexham's Striker Jake Bickerstaffe (he has scored once in 10 apps and had prior spells at Nantwich Town and Caernarfon).
All in all, you have to fancy County to win this at a canter, thus providing a suitable note to finish off a strong H record (W 14 D 5 L 3 F 44 A 15) prior to this game, second only to Wrexham in L2), but the banana skin is also pretty obvious so I'll be keeping my fingers crossed.
Meanwhile, elsewhere in L2:
Crewe (5th) v Wrexham (3rd)
Donny (9th, and climbing) v Barrow (6th and slumping)
Harrogate (12th) v MKD (4th)
Mansfield (2nd) v Gillingham (10th)
Sutton (23rd) v Crawley (7th)
Walsall (8th) v Bratfut (13th)
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Post by countyfan on Apr 18, 2024 12:22:53 GMT
Fans fill the stadium but aren't bothered if
Accrington win, lose or draw as they are there to see
County lift that League Two
Trophy after the final whistle
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Post by archie on Apr 18, 2024 13:38:47 GMT
Looking back to the 1966/67 season, the last time we picked up this trophy was after we lost 5-4 at home to Lincoln City, who were bottom of the pile.
A season's record of W26 D12 L8 GF69 GA42 Pts64 (which would be 90 nowadays) and 5 points (would be 8 now) ahead of second placed Southport. Very similar to this season apart from goals scored.
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Post by dudleyhatter on Apr 18, 2024 17:06:09 GMT
Great stats as ever!
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Post by gazz on Apr 18, 2024 19:54:12 GMT
Agreed, Duds - fantastic as always, AH. Excellent historical addition from Archie too. |
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Post by autistichatter on Apr 20, 2024 13:35:41 GMT
Louie Barry starts..... maybe they'll look to give him 45 mins to an hour...
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Post by dudleyhatter on Apr 20, 2024 14:14:53 GMT
I believe the champions have scored
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Post by Epworth Hatter on Apr 20, 2024 15:27:01 GMT
So pleased for Woots. He's worked hard without reward, so glad he's got his 2 goals today
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Post by gazz on Apr 20, 2024 16:19:44 GMT
Let's hope Louie starts next week too, and tears that tugboat Tozer a new one again - now that would be the perfect way to end the season.
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Post by autistichatter on Apr 20, 2024 16:59:10 GMT
Tozer seems to have been bench warming recently.
Very glad that Woots finally got a brace this week, his first goals this year..
Most wins, most goals scored, fewest goals conceded least losses....
What a season, and with a bit more luck and fewer injuries, it could have been even better.
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Post by gazz on Apr 20, 2024 18:25:22 GMT
Tozer seems to have been bench warming recently. Which is probably why they've managed to get promoted, AH! |
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Post by hermannsays on Apr 20, 2024 18:58:32 GMT
Though it may have been pre-planned to take Barry off anyway, he was struggling with his left knee as the end-half approached. If there's anything at all in it, I suspect he wouldn't be risked final game. Fingers crossed he's ok though for a nice day out in Wales.
As for the game, some good goals today from both sides. Wootton, Sarcevic and Lemonheigh-Evans had really good outings but the attitude of the side was very impressive, both on and off the ball. As just one example, on an Accrington break in the first 5 or 6 minutes, Madden and CLE charged back 50 yards to cover for Camps like this was a game to clinch the title. The fact they were so professional meant more than the result because it showed they had listened to DC and had the discipline to put in a proper showing for each other, and us.
Fans of goals from crosses will enjoy viewing the highlights, and it was good to see elements of the different ways we've had success under DC on show in the last home game.
There was no real sense the day would be spoiled by Accrington but they did give their support good
moments to cheer with quality goals. Some of their support came over to congratulate which was good to see, so fair play to them.
A fitting way to signout the season's football at EP and this time the pitch remained clear, except for one*, so well done to the support for giving the players their chance to enjoy the celebrations.
*As kids and a number of adults gathered at the boards, I think the young chap thought it was a pitch invasion... went over... hugged 2 players... realised no-one went on... looked embarrassed... left the pitch... frogmarched out minutes later.
A good day.
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