Accrington Stanley manager John Coleman spoke highly of Wycombe Wanderers boss Gareth Ainsworth ahead of Tuesday night’s clash between the two sides, and he knows it’ll be a tough game.
Stanley come into the game on the back of a 3-1 defeat to Sunderland, and Coleman admits his team need to focus on getting their defensive duties right if they are to get anything from the game against Wycombe.
“We know we played well against Sunderland, it’s just that we didn’t defend well as a team.
“The game isn’t just about the offensive side of things, it’s about the defensive side as well, and you attack as a team and defend as a team.
“I’ve tried to iron out basic organisation points and the quicker you get that right, the easier it is to slot into the positions that you should get into to defend properly.”
Saturday’s game saw Jerome Opoku make his first start for the club, as well as Aji Alese and Sadou Diallo both making their debuts, and Coleman also praised the loanees for how their attitudes have been since joining.
“They’re good lads, they’ve got a good background and they’ve had a good upbringing, but they’re also very grounded individuals.
“We haven’t got the facilities that they’ve got at their parent clubs, but they haven’t moaned once and they’ve got on with their jobs and I’ve been really impressed with their attitudes first and foremost.”
Both Sean McConville and Seamus Conneely are both available for selection after returning from suspension for tomorrow night’s game, but Coleman admits that whatever side he picks, his players will be going to win the game.
“Whatever side I go with tomorrow, I know the lads are hurting because we know the result should have been better against Sunderland, there’s no getting away from that.
“Changes aren’t always necessary but we’ll pick the team that we think is designed to combat Wycombe as best we can.
“We’re not just going to try and shut Wycombe out, we’re going to try and beat Wycombe and that’s the way we approach every game.”
Coleman finished his pre-match interview by heaping praise on Wycombe boss Ainsworth, and that the games between the two sides are always great matches.
“Gareth’s a great footballing man, I really get on with him well and in my opinion he’s one of the good guys in football and he’s done a remarkable job at Wycombe.
“To have them top of the league last week is a great testament to how well they’ve started the season and each time we’ve played against them, it’s been a great game and it’ll be no different tomorrow.”