2016/17 Prediction League; Game 26 v Carlisle United (home)

Div3North · 20-01-2017, 00:40

Accrington Stanley

V

Carlisle United

2016/17 Prediction League; Game 26 v Carlisle (home)

It comes to this; if we lose to Carlisle, Cheltenham avoid defeat by Plymouth, and Notts County win at Grimsby, we’re in the relegation spots – simple as! ……….. and that might be where we deserve to be after taking just 5 points from our last 30, and having failed to score in 7 of our last 10 League games, with a win rate over twenty-five games of 24% (6 wins in 25), a loss rate of twice that (48%) and the fewest goals in League 2 (we have 23, next is Crewe with 25 – and they recently sacked their manager) ……….. Oldham, of the 72 EFL sides, are worst with 13 goals scored, Wigan have 22, and Coventry also have 23 ……….. and Oldham, Wigan and Coventry are all in the drop zones of their respective Leagues! Points gained by the sides around us in 10 games are 7 (Cheltenham), 4 (Newport, although their sole win was 10 games ago), and one (Notts County, now Under New Management)

Speaking of managers leaving, it continues ………Craig Hignett left Hartlepool after 11 months, replaced by Dave Jones; apparently DJ “had a dream” (as did the Chairman Gary Coxall – I heard a rumour that they’re forming an Abba Tribute Band); Justin Edinburgh, sacked by League One Gillingham, has taken over at League One Northampton within the fortnight, replacing their former manager Rob Page (now sacked); Notts Forest haven’t got a manager, nor – as far as I know – have Barnet ………Coley, by the way, who was re-appointed on 18th September 2014, is now the fourth-longest serving League Two manager, behind Paul Tisdale (just starting his third Millennium at Exeter), Jim Bentley at Morecambe and Gareth Ainsworth at The Chairboys……………

We played Carlisle at their place (Brunton Park) on 3rd September, and took the lead on 58 mins when Billy Whizz headed in a cross from Rommy; 7 minutes later we let them equalise (Adams), so just got the one point ……….as you’ll know if you follow the scores they didn’t lose in the League until 12th November, when a “resurgent” (but not for long) Newport did them 2-0; overall so far, their League record is P26 W12 D11 L3 Pts 47 for 3rd place; their record of 3 defeats is the best in League Two, but Donnie (17), Plymouth (16) and Pompey (13) have won more ………they’re 4 points behind Plymouth and 8 behind Donnie, and 2 ahead of fourth-place Chimer Town FC …… and for the record, the other League teams to beat them (in back-to-back games) are Grimsby (1-3 at home), and Colchester 4-1 (including a Guthrie hat-trick) away ……. Their last 10 games have brought them 16 points (W4 D4 L2), but their last three games have only brought them one (1-1 v Morecambe) …………

The Cup games saw them exit both the EFLTroffy and the FA Cup in the space of four days (losing 3-2 at home to Mansfield in the EFL 2nd Round, and 2-0 at home to Rochdale in the FA Cup, also in the second round, having won 5-3 at St Albans (a place where I once spent a month one weekend) in Round One ……in the EFL Cup they did Port Vale (once managed by Rob Page (see “sacked” above)) 2-1, and then drew 1-1 at Derby in Round Two, losing the Penalty Shout Out 14-13 - stand up and explain yourself Joe McKee, who missed the vital penalty (saved at the foot of the post – the penalty, not Joe McKee!)

They need to release players to bring in new ones (we’ve released a few recently, haven’t we, most of whom didn’t get to play much); they’ve just released RB David Atkinson (23) – ex Midddlesbrough, who’s had few chances and has signed with Blyth Spartans - and striker Derek Asamoah (35), which is a shame for us, since Asamoah hasn’t scored this season in his 11 matches ……….. They have, though, just brought in former Spireites’ MF Gary Liddle …………..

Deadline for entries is, as always, scheduled kick-off time, which is 3.00pm this Saturday, 21st January ……….. Was I the only one who got a little malicious pleasure seeing AFC Wimbledon (last season’s Play-offs – remember?) embarrassed 3-1 by Sutton Utd this week in their Round Two replay – especially since the 2nd and 3rd gals were timed at 90 and 96 mins respectively? ……..One shouldn’t smile at other people’s misfortunes, of course, so I didn’t ……………… I laughed out loud! I just hope to Hell that we’re all laughing on Saturday evening!!!

And well done to Sean McConville for winning “Goal of Round 3” with his stunner against Luton in the Cup ............ always said he was a brilliant player!

Good luck to everyone! ................ Keep the Faith! ................ And thanks for playing!