Colby Bishop is definitely on penalties tomorrow should Stanley get a spot kick in their League One clash with visitors Southend.
There was some confusion at the end of the Ipswich defeat last week when, with Bishop on the park, Offrande Zanzala took and scored the Reds penalty in the 4-1 loss.
Bishop, signed from Leamington in the summer, has scored 12 goals this season – 10 in the league – and four of them have been from the penalty spot.
“I am on penalties – it was misunderstanding,” said the 23-year-old. “I hadn’t been in the team and Ozzy was on the last penalty so he believed he was taking it. It’s definitely me now though.”
The striker admits a back injury before Christmas has been frustrating for him after scoring five goals in three games at the end of November and early December before he returned to action at Portman Road last week.
“The back injury has been frustrating, I had found a bit of form before I got injured and it is frustrating when you can’t carry it on. I have been working hard to get back fit and hopefully I can crack on with that form now.
“It’s called spondylolisthesis. A bit of cartilage in between my lumbar spine slipped and it pushes on your nerves and causes sciatica in your legs.
“I have had it for four weeks. Apparently it’s quite common but mine is worse than other people’s and that’s why it was causing pain but it’s better now.
“Obviously it was good to be back on the pitch last week and get 90 minutes under my belt but it was a frustrating game and hopefully we can put it right tomorrow.”
Bishop was a bit of an unknown quantity when he arrived at the Wham Stadium from the Conference North and, even though he has got into double figures with his goals, he expects more from himself.
“I have 10 in the league and two in the cup and I want more.
“I am just frustrated I have missed the last couple of weeks as I was going on that run and I had targets and I thought I was going to get to this by then but obviously it’s been halted so I have just got to start again.
“I am over the moon with the goals I have got so far but I want more.”
Southend have one league win so far this season, over MK Dons, while Bishop scored in Stanley’s 1-0 victory at Roots Hall earlier in the season.
With the Reds having lost their last two league games, Bishop knows this is a big match.
“Southend is a massive game for both teams. They need a result and we need a result after last week and you can tell in training today, the lads were up for it, there was a good feel about it and I have a good feeling about tomorrow.
“Everyone knows how important tomorrow is and we are ready for it.
“They have picked up a bit of late with four draws in their last five games, they are improving and their manager, Sol Campbell, is part of that so we have to knock their confidence and score early and kick on.”
And Bishop is happy to be back at home.
“I love playing at the Wham Stadium and I want to play my part.
“I am a striker so you have got to score, it’s like if you are a chef, you cook, it’s what you do.
“The best thing in the world is scoring goals in front of your fans so hopefully there will be a couple more soon.”