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Interviews

INTERVIEW: We need to take our chances says Coley

Reds up against in-form Walsall

26 February 2024

Interviews

INTERVIEW: We need to take our chances says Coley

Reds up against in-form Walsall

26 February 2024

John Coleman knows Accrington Stanley need to take their chances if they are to overcome in-form Walsall tomorrow night.

The Saddlers are on a run of three successive wins which as propelled them into ninth place in League Two.

Stanley beat Mat Sadler’s side 2-1 just before Christmas but, despite creating multiple opportunities against Crawley Town on Saturday, the Reds lost 1-0.

Stanley's run is currently WDL WDL and they are craving consistency which could take them from 14th place up the table.

"I have said it all season, results go on the bounce of a ball," said Coleman. "If you watch Crawley's goal back, Tommy Leigh does that job better than anyone else in the league, in the six-yard box heading it away, he half gets pushed under it, possibly by his own man, and the safety net we always had disappears.

"Their header hits the post. If that's us it hits the post and goes out. For them, it hits the post and goes in. That's football.

"Radek Vitek has made one really good save but apart from that he hasn't really been troubled. We have had some great opportunities ourselves but you have to move onto the next game.

"I was speaking to Crawley manager Scott Lindsey after the game and he came in apologising, I said don't apologise for winning, but he was disappointed that we had made so many chances against them. That had annoyed him.

"The pleasing thing for us is that we got back to dominating the game and the chances, and asking questions of the opposition.

"Their goalkeeper has pulled off two or three really good saves and so if you play like that, you have a chance of winning games."

Academy product Lewis Trickett made his first league start while 16-year-old Anjola Popoola came off the bench to make his senior league appearance.

Coleman continued: "The pleasing thing is we have played so many of the young lads and we are still competing in the game.  

"Young lads are coming on and you don't feel like they will get overrun. You wouldn't like too many and so one or two is probably the optimum."

Walsall have beat league leaders Mansfield, Morecambe and Harrogate in their last three games.

Coleman continued: "I watched the game against Morecambe, there wasn't a lot in the game but Walsall took their chances.

"We know they are capable of taking their chances so that's one thing we have got to be wary of.

"We know their style of football and we have to come up with a plan to stamp our brand of football on the game and make that the dominant factor."

Tommy Leigh is 50/50 while Josh Woods and Alex Henderson are unlikely to be fit, to go alongside the long-term injured. Brad Hills sits out the second game of his four-match suspension.


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