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Club News

Bell relishing Shrimps clash

1 January 2018

Club News

Bell relishing Shrimps clash

1 January 2018

Accrington Stanley assistant manager Jimmy Bell admits that he is relishing today's New Years Day derby match with Morecambe.

The fixture is Stanley's second in the last 48 hours, following Saturday's 3-0 win at Grimsby.

Bell is anticipating a fiery afternoon at the Wham Stadium, with both Stanley and the Shrimps buoyed by important wins at the weekend.

He's also looking forward to renewing the friendly touchline rivalry with Morecambe manager and his friend Jim Bentley.

"We're expecting a big occasion," said Bell. "Hopefully our fans come out and get behind us and that win for Morecambe on Friday will mean that they will back their team in numbers and make the trip. It should be a smashing afternoon of football.

"I live for that battle on the touchline and I know that the Morecambe lads feel the same, it's feisty, we wouldn't have it any other way and I'm really looking forward to getting out there again.

"I was absolutely made up for Morecambe on Friday night to be honest. There was a lot of fear when they went 2-0 down on Friday but I know there is a lot of fighting spirit in their camp.

"I know that Jim [Bentley] and Kenny [McKenna] will have been hurting like we have in recent weeks, they'll be coming to our place with one thing on their mind, to beat us."

Bell hailed Stanley's win at Blundell Park on Saturday as an important one and hopes the Reds can put their poor form behind them and kick on for the remainder of the season - starting with victory in the first game of 2018.

"It has the makings of a great game," he added. "A big derby match on New Years Day, we have a good record against them and we fancy ourselves to beat anybody at home.

"The win on Saturday has given everybody at the club a massive lift and we can start to look up the table and chase down the pack, starting with Lincoln who have moved ahead of us.

"If we didn't win at Grimsby, then all of sudden you are starting to worry about what is happening below you in the table. Hopefully we can put that to the back of our mind now and make sure we are firing on all fronts and get back in there."


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