| Accrington Stanley, oo are dey? 'xactly! 13:14 - Jan 3 with 652 views | wessex_exile |
As the round of matches over the festive period draws to a close, we have the visit of Accrington Stanley on that most rare of events in our football history, a Sunday afternoon kick-off. If you filter out play-off and cup games, in the league this accounts for just 25 games since we were formed, seven won, six drawn and 12 lost. As you would imagine, Sunday games are generally focussed around Christmas and the New Year, or more recently, Sky-mandated final games of the season. It’s been a pretty positive holiday schedule for the U’s too, eight points from four games, and with other results often going our way, we’re now just two places and three points outside the play-offs.
Before we consider Accrington Stanley, a word or two first about the MK Dons match. It wasn’t as free-flowing as I had hoped, I’d even go so far as to say sluggish at times. I didn’t know about the frozen irrigation pipes preventing the ground staff from watering the pitch. I could, however, see dust/sand kicking up off the pitch, particularly for spot kicks, but didn’t have the knowledge to put two and two together. Others on social media have also commented about the definite ‘bobble’ the pitch seemed to have – so who knows, maybe there really was something in what Danny said post-match?
Nevertheless, although the energy and drive seemed diminished, and despite losing Bishop early on to injury, we still had much more about us than MK Dons, who I thought were very poor in the first half, but without carving out many clear-cut chances of our own. MK Dons found a bit more rhythm second half, and for a spell I genuinely though they might nick it. However, the defence held out no problem (apart from Rob Hunt’s suicidal back pass, but Macey pulled off a good double-save to keep them out). The substitutions on the hour mark made the difference, although I thought Samson had quite a good game, with the pace of Lisbie and Mbick finally started to turn the tide. Deep in added-time I had almost given up hope we’d find the winner, until Lisbie was hauled to the ground and Payne blasted home the winner – oh my days, the celebrations!
Since returning to the football league in 2006, Accrington Stanley have proved themselves to be no pushovers, grinding out generally lower mid-table finishes season after season. It was Andy Holt’s takeover in 2015 that changed that, taking them from plucky League 2 battlers to League 1 promotion in 2018, and where they stayed for several more seasons until relegation back to League 2 in 2023. They’re not doing too bad this season either, again in their customary mid-table slot, but with three wins on the bounce they are now only three points behind the U’s and really shouldn’t be underestimated on Sunday.
But don’t just take my word for it, our record against the ‘Owd Reds says it all – in nine league matches since Accy's return to the football league, the U’s have just a solitary victory, two draws and the rest defeats – talk about a bogey team. That victory btw was under caretaker manager Scott Marshall during the infamous Wagmi-gate debacle, when Matty Etherington had to stand down for a game whilst our lawyers checked the fictitious contract hold that Crawley claimed they had over him. With the benefit of hindsight, maybe we should have stuck with Scott Marshall?
As for tomorrows line-up, unfortunately we continue to be plagued by injuries, with Bishop limping off early against MK Dons with a calf strain, Kuffour Jr reportedly out with an ankle ligament injury, Oni a hamstring injury in training, even Harvey apparently has a minor injury, and Anderson seen at the New Years Day match wearing a knee brace. With all that in mind, I can’t decide whether Danny might stick with the general theme from the last game with Tovide on the right, Lisbie on the bench and possibly Mbick and Goodwin leading the line, or reverting to our more regular line-up with Tovide and Mbick up front and Lisbie starting? I’m going for the latter and fingers-crossed everyone comes through the game unscathed.
I may be getting old, but although there was a stunning sunset on New Years Day, it was bitterly cold. Tomorrow will be more of the same, a bright sunny day but barely above freezing, and in a gentle breeze from the west, it’ll feel well below freezing. Wrap up warm if you’re heading to the JobServe, and I do hope they’ve sorted out the frozen irrigation pipes.
It’ll be a tough game tomorrow, but the U’s to win 2-0 with Read opening the scoring.
Up the U’s |  |
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| Accrington Stanley, oo are dey? 'xactly! on 00:44 - Jan 4 with 523 views | Daniel |
Played for both
Harry Pell - Signed for Accrington from us in the summer of 2021. He had a very good season for them in League 1, scoring eight goals in 41 appearances.
Kayode Odejayi - Had a loan spell at Accrington in 2013/14 after leaving us. Scored eight in 33.
Elliot Parish - Signed for Accrington in 2016 after being released by us. Made 11 appearances for them. |  | | |
| Accrington Stanley, oo are dey? 'xactly! on 09:52 - Jan 4 with 441 views | Daniel |
There's a pitch inspection at 10:15am. | | | |
| Accrington Stanley, oo are dey? 'xactly! on 10:16 - Jan 4 with 433 views | noah4x4 |
| Accrington Stanley, oo are dey? 'xactly! on 09:52 - Jan 4 by Daniel |
There's a pitch inspection at 10:15am. |
Match postponed.
At least we don’t have to trek to Lancashire on a Tuesday night |  | | |
| Accrington Stanley, oo are dey? 'xactly! on 10:26 - Jan 4 with 425 views | wessex_exile |
Oh well, at least we’ve got the matchday preview and thread in the bank ready for the rearranged fixture. Not many games have survived the freeze today. | |
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| Accrington Stanley, oo are dey? 'xactly! on 10:42 - Jan 4 with 419 views | Witham |
Good early decision for Stanley fans And good decision giving our team time to recover from their hard won Christmas achievements |  | | |
| Accrington Stanley, oo are dey? 'xactly! on 11:05 - Jan 4 with 410 views | wessex_exile |
| Accrington Stanley, oo are dey? 'xactly! on 10:42 - Jan 4 by Witham |
Good early decision for Stanley fans And good decision giving our team time to recover from their hard won Christmas achievements |
Danny and Nicky off to frost-free MK Dons to run the rule over Chesterfield ahead of next Saturday’s trip. | |
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| Accrington Stanley, oo are dey? 'xactly! on 12:49 - Jan 4 with 372 views | Daniel |
| Accrington Stanley, oo are dey? 'xactly! on 11:05 - Jan 4 by wessex_exile |
Danny and Nicky off to frost-free MK Dons to run the rule over Chesterfield ahead of next Saturday’s trip. |
MK Dons vs Chesterfield was a midday kick-off, so I'll be very surprised if they get to see much of that game! | | | |
| Accrington Stanley, oo are dey? 'xactly! on 13:04 - Jan 4 with 359 views | wessex_exile |
| Accrington Stanley, oo are dey? 'xactly! on 12:49 - Jan 4 by Daniel |
MK Dons vs Chesterfield was a midday kick-off, so I'll be very surprised if they get to see much of that game! |
Maybe he meant on some dodgy fire stick  | |
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| Accrington Stanley, oo are dey? 'xactly! on 13:19 - Jan 4 with 357 views | bwildered |
Given that the pitch pipes were frozen on New Years Day and zero temps thereafter, wonder why this fixture was not cancelled on the Saturday !?!? |  |
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| Accrington Stanley, oo are dey? 'xactly! on 13:39 - Jan 4 with 349 views | Daniel |
All of the 3pm games in League 2 have ended up being postponed. | | | |
| Accrington Stanley, oo are dey? 'xactly! on 15:16 - Jan 4 with 327 views | noah4x4 |
| Accrington Stanley, oo are dey? 'xactly! on 13:04 - Jan 4 by wessex_exile |
Maybe he meant on some dodgy fire stick |
I think it was a red button option on Sky Sports +.
MKD concede on 90+4 for the second week running. Freddie Lapado and Will Grigg coming off subs bench to salvage a point for Chesterfield.
No doubt about it, we are in the mix. | | | |
| Accrington Stanley, oo are dey? 'xactly! on 09:43 - Jan 5 with 205 views | bwildered |
| Accrington Stanley, oo are dey? 'xactly! on 15:16 - Jan 4 by noah4x4 |
I think it was a red button option on Sky Sports +.
MKD concede on 90+4 for the second week running. Freddie Lapado and Will Grigg coming off subs bench to salvage a point for Chesterfield.
No doubt about it, we are in the mix. |
The young lad who scored from his own half for Newport must have been recalled back to Leicester City and reloan to Chesterfield has he was playing at MKD yesterday , so beware Matt Macey at the weekend ! | |
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| Accrington Stanley, oo are dey? 'xactly! on 11:44 - Jan 5 with 185 views | RSCOSWORTH |
| Accrington Stanley, oo are dey? 'xactly! on 09:43 - Jan 5 by bwildered |
The young lad who scored from his own half for Newport must have been recalled back to Leicester City and reloan to Chesterfield has he was playing at MKD yesterday , so beware Matt Macey at the weekend ! |
He got Man of the Match too! |  |
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| Accrington Stanley, oo are dey? 'xactly! on 11:47 - Jan 5 with 184 views | RSCOSWORTH |
As postponements go I feel like this was a good one. A tired squad with a few injury concerns against a team that had won three in a row and likely to be conditions that would favour them more than us. They wouldn't have brought many yesterday and they'll bring even less to the rearranged fixture and hopefully they go home disappointed after an away defeat. | |
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