By Steve Manning
The Fleetmaster Group – Fleet Driver Training Solutions.
The Big Match Accrington Stanley Preview
Saturday 18th March 2023
The Wham Stadium, EFL League One, Kick-Off: 3pm.
Team & Player Statistics
Accrington Stanley: Position – 20th
Pld: 35 W: 8 D: 11 L: 16 gf: 30 ga: 55 gd: -25 Points: 35
Top League scorer: Tommy Leigh – 6 goals
Top assists provider: Mitchell Clark – 5 assists
Previous result:
Accrington lost 3-1 at home to Portsmouth, on Tuesday evening.
MK Dons: Position – 21st
Pld: 36 W: 9 D: 6 L: 21 gf: 32 ga: 54 gd: -22 Points: 33
Top scorer (season): Mo Eisa – 9 goals.
Top scorer league: Mo Eisa – 6 goals.
Top Assists provider: Mo Eisa & Dawson Devoy – 3 assists.
Previous result:
The Dons beat relegation rivals Cambridge United thanks to a stunning Mohamed Eisa free-kick. A valuable 1-0 win.
Head 2 head:
Stanley wins: 2 Drawn: 2 Dons wins: 6
Stanley goals: 14 Dons goals: 22
Last meeting:
20th August 2022: EFL League One- Dons 1 Accrington 1
Cambridge United in review:
Mo Eisa’s stunning first half free-kick gave Mark Jackson’s Dons three vital points against relegation rivals Cambridge United, at Stadiummk.
In a very typical relegation six pointer, there was little between these two sets of players, with chances at a premium during the opening stages.
It would be the U’s Jack Lankester who had the first chance of this contest when he attempted to capitalise on a mix-up between returning captain Dean Lewington, and Jack Tucker, but his resulting effort was fired straight at Dons loanee Jamie Cumming.
The visitors Cambridge had their opener ruled out for offside after half an hour, with Jack Lankester again latching onto a pass from midfielder Shilow Tracey, after a mazy run through the centre, but his curler was ruled out by a late offside flag.
Ten mins before half time, Mo Eisa unpicked the lock on Dimitar Mitov’s goal to break the deadlock, as he saw his bent free-kick arrow itself into the top left corner from around 20 yards outside of the area to give the Dons a lead they would not give up.
The Dons rode on the momentum gained during the first 45 minutes of the game, and continued to enjoy having the majority of chances and possession in the second half, not many troubled Bulgarian International Mitov however, and Cambridge were restricted to a solitary headed effort on goal from a corner – straight at Jamie Cumming.
The win closed the gap to Accrington to 3 points, and midweek results have lifted the club to just one place below Stanley in the table, thanks to goal difference.
How Stanley could line up?
John Coleman has utilised a 3-4-1-2 in recent weeks, Luke Jensen’s ban may alter his thinking for this one. But that is to be seen.
Possible Stanley starting XI:
Savin; Rodgers, Tharme, Fernandes; Clark, Martin, Lowe, McConville; Leigh; Whalley, Adedoyin.
How Dons could line up?
Dons could stick with the same 3-4-3 formation that overcame Cambridge last Saturday. Momentum is everything, but there again is continuity.
Possible Dons starting XI:
Cumming; Lawrence, Tucker, Lewington (c); Watson, Devoy, Maghoma, Harvie; Leko, Eisa, Holland
One’s to Watch?
Shaun Whalley – Attacker: This wiley old operator is somewhat a thorn in the side of our Dons in recent years. His displays for Shrewsbury against the Dons helped Steve Cotterill and Co secure some valuable points in the past. He’ll be a threat that needs to be taken seriously.
Mohamed Eisa – Striker: The man is most definitely back on his groove, and appears hungrier than ever for his favourite past time. Scoring spectacular goals. This could be bad news for our hosts as the Sudan hitman looks to drag his side away from the drop zone #MoScoresGoals
Score prediction:
Accrington Stanley 1 MK Dons 2
A rare win on the road against a team also in indifferent form.
Match Odds supplied by Ladbrokes:
Accrington win: 6/4 Draw: 21/10 Dons win: 15/8
Dons to win 2-1: 10/1
Thank you again for joining me to crunch the numbers, and chew the fat ahead of Mark Jackson and the Dons trip to Lancashire.
If you get the chance to sample their legendary Gravy and Chips, I’d take it, can get a bit cold in that part of the world.
Until Next Time, SM.
