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Interviews

INTERVIEW: Coley hoping to start another run

Stanley manager John Coleman previews this Saturday's Sky Bet League One fixture with Cheltenham Town

31 March 2022

Interviews

INTERVIEW: Coley hoping to start another run

Stanley manager John Coleman previews this Saturday's Sky Bet League One fixture with Cheltenham Town

31 March 2022

With three home fixtures remaining this season, Accrington Stanley manager John Coleman is hoping that his side can begin another run when they welcome Cheltenham Town to East Lancashire on Saturday.

Prior to last weekend's 2-1 defeat to Gillingham, the Reds were nine matches unbeaten at the Wham Stadium in a run that stretched back to the start of December.

This Saturday's visitors also come into the game on the back of a loss, with Michael Duff's side having suffered a 4-1 defeat to Play-Off pushing Sheffield Wednesday.

Only goal difference separates the two sides in the Sky Bet League One table, with The Robins currently a place ahead of Stanley in 12th.

Here are the highlights from Coley's pre-match interview:

Coley on looking to start another run...

"You've got to start another run and that's what we'll be transmitting to the players this week, start another run and let's go until the end of the season.

"It's good that you can reward the fans who come and pay their hard-earned money. It's just a shame that we can't reward the ones who come away from home, hopefully we'll do something about that between now and the end of the season as well."

Coley on squad depth...

"We have now got a healthy squad and we're leaving lots of players out, we had a strong bench on Saturday and we'll have a strong bench this Saturday.

"It gives us a chance to maybe look at some ideas for next season as well."

Coley on Joe Pritchard...

"The temptation is you want your best players on the pitch, so you rush them and we've had to temper that. Joe will get enough minutes and he'll be guided by the physios.

"I think he mentally is quite a tough person to be honest. I think there's no reason why he shouldn't be back to full fitness and ripping up this division, which he was starting to do before he got injured."

Coley on the involvement of Under-23s players...

"If you think the players are good enough, you're not weakening your side and that's the trick. We've got to have players who we think are good enough and we've got a lot of good players.

"I think the experience they get is vital. It's a totally different game and it's breathtaking at times, and some lads sink, some lads swim, hopefully we'll have more swimmers."

Coley on Michael Duff...

"Michael's done brilliant. I've watched them quite a few times this season; they've played some great football, scored some wonderful goals, and had some great results.

"He might find out that the hard part is the second year syndrome and I'm sure he's more than capable of being able to deal with that.

"I think people get a bit wise to how you play. You're not the new kids on the block, the novelty of your players playing in that league has gone and people are more aware of the threats that you pose.

"Second time around I found it difficult, but I think he's got a good manner about him as well and I think he'll more than cope."

Coley on how his team is perceived...

"We have added a bit more height in the last couple of years and people just think because they see big players that you're a long ball team, I never want to be a long ball team but you've got to have a couple of strings to your bow.

"If you look at the goals Liverpool have scored from a 70-yard ball, is that a long ball or is that a long pass? It can be effective but it's getting that balance right.

"On Saturday we didn't get the balance right at all in the first half, we just kicked everything long to Colby (Bishop) and played exactly the opposite of what I believe in football.

"Thankfully after 35 minutes we managed to get some information on and we changed that, and I thought the conversations we had at half-time worked in the fact that we played better football. We didn't get the result that we wanted or deserved but that wasn't for the want of trying."

The full pre-match interview with John Coleman is available to watch on the club's official YouTube channel, CLICK HERE to find out more!


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