Any Previous? - Latics v Accrington Stanley

The Latics are back in action on Tuesday when East Lancashire’s finest, Accrington Stanley visit the DW Stadium for a League One fixture.

 

We have met just five times since Accrington gained promotion to the Football League in 2006, with two of those meetings coming earlier this season.

 

Surprisingly, even though we are relatively close geographically, the two clubs don’t share much history, though we did meet during our non-league days.

 

Latics faced Accrington in the Lancashire Junior cup, a semi-final tie taking place at Springfield Park back in 1978, played out in front of 911 spectators, we won that game 4:3, stalwart Ian Gillibrand netting the last of his six goals that he scored during his time with the club where he made over 420 appearances.

Thanks to Jeff Rourke for his encyclopaedic knowledge of the Latics.

 

Accrington and Wigan Borough FC met regularly during the lifespan of Borough, firstly in the Lancashire Combination 1920/21 season, then in the newly formed Division 3 North, from 1921/22 through to the demise of Wigan Borough in 1931.

 

Accrington also faced Wigan Rovers during the 1970s in the Lancashire Combination

  

Classic Encounter

12^th December 2020, a game full of goals as bottom of the table Latics took on League One’s form side. Three up by 32 minutes with Tom James, Dan Gardner and a Will Keane penalty on the score-sheet, James lost a tooth scoring with a diving header at the far post.

 

Accrington pulled it back to 3:2 with two goals in four minutes just after the hour mark, Ollie Crankshaw gave the Latics a two goal cushion with seven minutes left only for Accy to pull a goal back on 86 minutes and set up a tense finale to the game.

Latics – Jones; James, Johnson, Tilt, Long, Pearce; Merry, Perry, Gardner, Keane; Joseph

Subs – Evans, Obi, Crankshaw, Jolley, Beningime, Robinson, Smith

Attendance – 0

 Highlights – Wigan Athletic 4:3 Accrington Stanley

 

Last Meeting

We have already met Accrington twice this season, both games coming at the Wham Stadium, back in November a Latics side mainly consisting of U23s beat their hosts on penalties following a 1:1 draw in 90 minutes in the Papa John EFL Trophy, whilst in September we clashed in the reverse league fixture.

 

Latics putting in one of their best performances of the season won the game 1:4 with goals from Jack Whatmough, Will Keane and a Charlie Wyke double.

Latics – Amos; Power, Whatmough, Watts, Darikwa; Cousins, Naylor; Lang, McClean, Keane; Wyke

Subs – Tickle, Edwards, Tilt, Bayliss, Jordan Jones, Pearce, Humphrys

Attendance – 4,517

 

Accrington Current Form

Accrington currently sit 14^th in League One with 51 points from 40 games, their recent form is, WDLLD.

 

Accy’s last game was on Saturday 2^nd April at home against Cheltenham, an incident packed game which saw eight goals, a red card and a share of the spoils as the match ended 4:4 with four of the goals – two for each side - coming after the 87^th minute.

 

Away Form

Accrington’s 19 away games so far this season have brought 13 points, with 3 wins, 12 defeats & 4 draws, scoring 13 goals and conceding 37.

 

Player To Watch – Colby Bishop

Colby Bishop

 

The 25 year old striker signed from National League North side, Leamington in July 2019 and is the current top scorer at Stanley.

 

A former Notts County youth player, Bishop made his name in non-league football with Gloucester, Worcester, Boston and Leamington, before earning his move back into the EFL with Accrington Stanley.

 

Colby Bishop has been linked with several clubs over the course of the season and potentially be Accrington’s next export once this campaign ends.

 

So far this season, Colby Bishop has made 35 League One appearances, he’s scored 9 goals from 77 attempts and made 4 assists, he’s committed 46 fouls and drawn 33, picking up just the one yellow card along the way.

 

Full League Record v Accrington Stanley

Played – 5

Won –3

Drawn – 0 

Lost – 2

 

The Five Meetings

Date	Competition	Result
07 Nov 2021	EFL Trophy	Accrington 1:1 Latics (5:4 pens)
18 Sep 2021	League One	Accrington 1:4 Latics
20 Mar 2021	League One	Accrington 3:1 Latics
12 Dec 2020	League One	Latics 4:3 Accrington
07 Nov 2017	EFL Trophy	Latics 0:4 Accrington

Don’t forget to vote for YOUR Progress With Unity Latics Player of the Season

To vote, simply send an email with your player nomination to pwupots2022@gmail.com mark your email POTS