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Coley: We'll definitely go to win the game

Stanley's manager previews this weekend's clash with AFC Wimbledon

15 August 2019

Interviews

Coley: We'll definitely go to win the game

Stanley's manager previews this weekend's clash with AFC Wimbledon

15 August 2019

Accrington Stanley manager John Coleman emphasised that his side will travel to London this weekend in search of all three points from the game against AFC Wimbledon.

Stanley have begun the season with two defeats against Lincoln City and Sunderland, but Coleman admits that there have been improvements from his players in both games.

"It's a big weekend for us, it's a chance to get back playing and I think the lads certainly showed signs of improvement on Tuesday from the Lincoln game, so if we keep on improving then hopefully our results will keep on improving.

"We know we're going to Wimbledon and we know it's going to be a tough game, we watched them last week and they posed Fleetwood lots of problems, so we know we've got our work cut out but we also know we're capable of posing anyone problems.

"They work hard for each other, similar to ourselves, they've got good attacking players and they've got solid defenders.

"We know it's going to be a difficult game, going away anywhere trying to get a result in any league is difficult, but we'll apply ourselves and we'll definitely go to win the game, we won't be shutting up shop to get a point."

Coleman added that despite the improvements on the pitch, there are still a few things that his players need to work on going forward.

"We need to score from open play, we got a penalty the other day, but we had chances against Lincoln and the other night, but unfortunately we didn't take them.

"We've got to be more dynamic going forward and try and make and take chances.

"We let ourselves down with the supply on Tuesday, we couldn't beat the first man with a cross, but we're not the only team who struggles with that, supply is important but we've got to be ruthless with our finishing."

Stanley have began training at King George's playing fields this season and the manager admits that it's so important that the club now has it's own training ground.

"It's getting a base and being able to develop your own base, which is key to being a football club, which we've never had before.

"You want to be playing, this country is renowned for freak weather, from having your pre-season training hampered by excessive heat, we're now getting hampered by excessive rain.

"It's very difficult to set training schedules when you've got waterlogged pitches everywhere, which makes it hard to train but we want to play and thankfully we've now got a pitch that can sustain rainfall and it'll be pristine on Tuesday."

It's been a busy summer at the Wham Stadium with 12 new arrivals, and Coleman spoke of how well the squad have gelled together.

"It's all little elements that help, we have to build a solid base here and we have to work on team spirit, we have to have a common goal.

"The players quickly buy into that because we've got a few players who have been here a long time, and they'll let people know what's expected.

"We've got no cliques here, I've never liked cliques and there never will be here, that's the way it should be in football.

"Obviously you'll have certain players who are friends with each other but when they go out on to the pitch, they're all fighting for the same thing.

"We do like to have a sing song when we win and it's nice to get the new lads up to sing, but keeping Sean McConville off the mic when we've won isn't easy."

The transfer window for Sky Bet League One and League Two clubs shuts on Monday 2nd September, and Stanley's manager may bring in one more before then.

"I might bring in one more defender, but that will be it then.

"We've got a little injury check on Ben (Barclay) after he cut his head, but this might come a bit too soon for Ozzy (Offrande Zanzala), he should be right for next week."


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