PREVIEW: Accrington Stanley v Wanderers

Wanderers make the short trip to Accrington Stanley looking for a win to get them back into the top six.

A second away victory of the campaign could lift the Whites as high as fourth in the table.

Accrington currently sit 16th in League One with two home wins so far.

The Whites will be backed by a sold-out allocation of 2,600 away fans.

Manager quotes:

Ian Evatt: “I think we’re 85 per cent there. I think there’s a lot of our game that’s correct and right.

“We’re dominating games with the ball. We’re conceding very few chances and conceding very few goals.

“We are creating chances. I know it feels like we haven’t done, but we have when you look back at it.

“It’s just about taking them and that last 10-15 per cent in the opposition box.

“Those types of games can start players out on a run. It was great to see our forwards scoring goals and I do believe in them.

“We mustn’t forget what they’ve done historically – the end of last season for instance. We have a firm belief in them and think they can score goals.”

Accrington manager John Coleman: “We know this will be another hard challenge but these are the games where we generally improve and hopefully we can rise to the occasion.

“Both us and Bolton are desperate to get back on track and scoring goals in the league. I think neither of us have scored in the last two league games so it could be a 0-0 - or a 5-5!

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“We know the wealth of talent they have in their squad and it will be difficult for anyone to pick their starting XI for Saturday.

“The first goal is vital in most game these days, it’s not always the case but it has such a bearing on how the game pans out and we are desperate to get it.”

Team news

Wanderers will be without wing-back Conor Bradley, who serves a one-match ban for collecting five yellow cards.

The Whites expect Jon Dadi Bodvarsson to be fit after the striker came off with a knock to the ankle following his goal in Tuesday night’s Papa Johns Trophy win.

Midfielder Josh Sheehan will be checked after suffering from a back spasm in the 3-0 victory.

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Defender Eoin Toal is back in training but not ready to return to the squad after a thigh injury but wideman Lloyd Isgrove could figure in a league match-day squad for the first time in 10 months.     

Ex-Wanderers midfielder Joe Pritchard is expected to be fit for the Reds after missing their mid-week Trophy win.

Another former White – forward Nathan Delfouneso – came off the bench in the 3-2 victory over Liverpool’s U21s as he builds up his match fitness.

And goalkeeper Lukas Jensen, who was on loan with Wanderers two season, ago started against Liverpool after his run of league starts ended last weekend.

Form guide

Wanderers ended a three-game winless run with their 3-0 Papa Johns Trophy win over Leeds United’s U21s on Tuesday night.

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Ian Evatt’s men lost their last two away games – their only defeats in 10 games in all competitions – ahead of last Saturday's 0-0 draw at home to Barnsley.

Accrington also qualified for the knock-out stages of the Trophy thanks to their mid-week win over Liverpool’s youngsters.

The 3-2 victory followed back-to-back 3-0 league losses for the Reds.

Stanley had secured three successive league wins prior to that – having won just one of their first eight league games of the season.

Officials

Referee: Robert Madden

Assistant referees: Daniel Woodward and Bradley Hall

Fourth official: Robert Lewis

Kick-off

Saturday 3pm

Coverage

Live commentary is available with an audio pass via iFollow HERE

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