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Club News

Coleman likes attacking options

22 February 2019

Club News

Coleman likes attacking options

22 February 2019

John Coleman says it is nice to have attacking options as he looks forward to the visit of Southend United to the Wham Stadium tomorrow.

Billy Kee has scored two goals in two games, taking his tally to 12 for the season, with fellow strikers Paul Smyth and Luke Armstrong also netting their first goals for the club against Sunderland and Oxford respectively.

Stanley have bagged six goals in their last two outings, and Coleman says his frontmen all offer something different going forward.

"There's a number of players who have flourished playing alongside Billy, going back to Shay McCartan, Josh Windass, and Kayden Jackson," said Coleman.

"Players flourish playing with him because he's clever enough to play them in if they have the pace and skill.

"Luke Armstrong is more than capable of leading the line on his own, Okera Simmonds gives us options, Offrande Zanzala gives us strength and pace, Paul Smyth gives us blinding pace. There is quite a varied skillset amongst them and it's up to us to use them wisely.

"Ozzy has been unlucky and he's not seen much football lately, and Okera is a very good player too. He's chomping at the bit to get into the squad let alone get onto the pitch.

"We have got good options now, and you need that. We have got changes that we can make now which definitely strengthens your hand."

Stanley host the Shrimpers in the second of four successive home fixtures tomorrow, and the Reds boss is expecting a difficult test after the visitors fought back from 3-0 down against promotion hopefuls Portsmouth to secure a point.

Coleman said: "We've done our homework on them, as I'm sure they've done on us. We know what to expect and we know that if we can get it going at home we're capable of getting on a run.

"Our home form in recent years has been quite good and this is an opportunity, but it will pose it's own problems like every game in League One does. We've got to be up for the challenge.

"You know that if Southend go two or three down they're not going to be thinking that they're out of the game.

"When you're scoring good goals that gives you a bit of confidence as well. They're a dangerous team, they're a potent team, but we believe we can be as well.

"We've just got to get the mindset that we've got to go all out to do whatever it takes to win the game.

"I don't think the game at Roots Hall earlier this season was really a 3-0 game, but they scored the goals. We got punished again for not taking our chances and hopefully our chances will go in this weekend."

Sam Finley is available for selection after finishing his suspension, though Ross Sykes could be out for three to four weeks with a groin injury.


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