MATCH PREVIEW - ACCRINGTON STANLEY (A)

14 April 2022

BURTON Albion travel to Lancashire to take on Accrington Stanley at the Wham Stadium for our Good Friday fixture tomorrow afternoon (3pm kick-off).

Albion return to away action after two consecutive home matches, both ending in 0-0 draws with promotion-chasing Plymouth Argyle and Wigan Athletic.

FORM GUIDE

Despite being without a win in four, the Brewers come into the game off the back of two clean sheets, the most recent coming in a solid performance against league leaders Wigan Athletic.

Accrington ended a run of five games without victory last time out. They left it late to snatch a 2-1 win away at Fleetwood Town last Saturday.

HEAD 2 HEAD

Burton Albion edge the record when it comes to competitive head-to-head fixtures between the two. In the 20 meetings between the sides, Burton have won nine of these matches. Accrington have won on six occasions while there have been five draws in this match-up.

The Brewers put on a dominant display when the teams met at the Pirelli Stadium earlier this season. Two goals each from Daniel Jebbison and Jonny Smith secured a convincing win over John Coleman’s side in November 2021.

BREWERS TEAM NEWS

There are no new injury concerns for the Brewers ahead of the trip to Accrington Stanley. Jonny Smith will be out for the reaminder of the season with a shoulder injury, as confirmed by Dino Maamria earlier this week.

ACCRINGTON STANLEY TEAM NEWS

Defender Ross Sykes is available for selection after serving a two game suspension.

Manager John Coleman has said his side will try to avenge the 4-0 defeat against the Brewers earlier on in the season.

“We were poor that day but you can’t take anything away from Burton, they played well on the day, they scored goals that they did, but it was like a circus from us.”

MATCH OFFICIALS

The man with the whistle for tomorrow’s match will be Ollie Yates, who will be assisted by Ivan Stankovic and Alan Clayton. The Fourth Official for the game will be Lewis Raper.

Ollie Yates.jpg

IFOLLOW

The game is not available to live stream domestically due to broadcasting restrictions, but you can buy an audio only pass for £2.50.

Match Reports

MATCH REPORT: ACCRINGTON STANLEY 0-0 BURTON ALBION

15 April 2022

ALBION recorded a goalless draw for the third game in a row to take a hard earned point from the notiously tricky trip to Accrington Stanley.

Once again chances were at a premium for both sides with both Joe Powell and Oumar Niasse going through one on one with keeper Toby Savin in the second half only for the Stanley keeper to come out on top while Albion defended resiliently again to restrict home attacks and give good protection to keeper Matej Kovar who was relatively untroubled from direct shots.

After another battling performance to take a point from league leaders Wigan Athletic in midweek it was just a change in attack as Albion looked to get back to winning ways at The Wham Stadium. Niasse was restored to the starting line-up for the game against old foes Accrington with Christian Saydee dropping to the bench.

The some side began by dominating much of the possession in the early stages as they looked to settle and find a way through the Brewers defence. Chances were few and far between in the first ten minutes or so with striker Tommy Leigh the only one to try an attempt on goal although that failed to trouble Kovar, dribbling wide of the post.

Albion did venture into the Accrington box on thirteen minutes as Tom Hamer slipped the ball through for Harry Chapman but his cross was blocked at close range by Ross Sykes to avert any danger.

A loose pass from Powell on the quarter of an hour mark allowed Stanley to burst forwards with midfielder Ethan Hamilton forcing Kovar into a save low to his right and the Manchester United loanee was called on again shortly afterwards, a ball in from the right finding Colby Bishop who glanced a header towards goal but with insufficient power to seriously trouble the keeper.

Deji Oshilaja was booked for a foul on Joe Pritchard as Accrington looked to raid forwards again and Albion were able to clear the danger before Hamer fired Albion's best chance of the half over the bar. Chapman did well on the right hand side and slid a neat little pass inside to the defender who took a touch and poked a left foot effort well over.

On the stroke of half time Michael Mancienne followed Oshilaja into the book for a mistimed tackle on Sean McConville.

Half time: Accrington Stanley 0-0 Burton Albion

Albion started the second half brightly but a couple of Joe Powell free kicks were lacking in accuracy to provide a real threat, the first just over the head of Brayford and the second, an ambitious long range curling effort finishing well over the bar.

As Accrington looked to try and reassert their earlier authority it was Albion who broke away to go close to the opener on 63 minutes. Niasse looked to be fouled on halfway but when Chapman picked up the loose ball referee Ollie Yates played on and Chapman released Powell for a shot inside the box that was saved by Toby Savin. The Stanley keeper was called on again moments later when Hamer sent Niasse clear but with the striker caught in two minds whether to shoot or round the keeper it was Savin who prevailed again standing up to block inside the area.

Accrington continued to look for the opener and it almost came with fifteen minutes remaining, a swift counter picking out the unmarked McConville on the right but when he opted to shoot Oshilaja was there to get an important block in to keep things level.

It was the 83rd minute when Albion made to look their first change and it was an attacking move as Saydee came on for Joe Powell.Niasse's afternoon also came to an end three minutes later as the fresh legs of Gassan Ahadme were summonsed to replace him.

Albion's trio of changes were complete two minutes later as Charlie Lakin came on for Harry Chapman.

Accrington are always a side to go right to the end and substitute Jack Nolan forced Kovar into an awkward save low to his right from distance as the added time board went up showing three additional minutes and there was a final skirmish inside the Burton box with the ball eventually ending up in the grateful arms of Kovar but in the end it was a third straight stalemate as Albion reached the 50 point mark in League One.

ALBION: Kovar; Hughes, Brayford, Oshilaja; Hamer, Mancienne, Borthwick-Jackson, Kokolo; Powell (Saydee, 83); Chapman (Lakin, 88), Niasse (Ahadme, 86).
Substitutes: Garratt, Leak, Maddox, Moult.

Referee: Ollie Yates

Attendance: 2,513 (177 away)