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Match Previews

Preview: Accrington (H)

25 August 2017

Match Previews

Preview: Accrington (H)

25 August 2017

Notts County host Accrington Stanley for Friday night football with an opportunity to go top of the Sky Bet League Two table.

The Magpies have won two of their three league outings thus far and registered three victories in a week to build momentum heading into this Bank Holiday weekend fixture.

Last weekend's 4-2 win at Wycombe has given Kevin Nolan plenty of food for thought when it comes to team selection but Accrington are sure to provide a stern test.

The Reds have an identical record to Notts after three league games with two wins and a defeat. They beat Mansfield 2-1 last weekend with former Stags striker Billy Kee scoring a last-minute winner.

After exiting the Carabao Cup at the hands of Premier League outfit West Bromwich Albion in midweek, Stanley boss John Coleman will want his side's focus resharpened to pick up a first away win of 2017-18.

Nolan, however, will want to maintain his record of only having lost one competitive match at Meadow Lane since his appointment as Notts boss in mid-January.

Notts boss Kevin Nolan says...

"I love football under the lights. It's always a fantastic occasion but it won't be easy against Accrington - it never is.

"They always pose a threat and have some really good players. Billy Kee has done it for years at this level and they have added well over the summer."

Click here for more from the manager.

Accrington manager John Coleman says...

"It has all the makings for a really expansive game between two attacking sides who will both expect to be up there in May.

"We've got a good record at Notts County, we generally do better in the bigger stadiums. I know Kevin Nolan quite well and he'll be setting his team up to go for the win.

"They're a big club in this league, maybe too big but I believe we can go there and perform well. I'm looking forward to it and I'm sure that Kevin is."

Team news

Nolan expects to have a fully fit squad ahead of the game but has a number of selection headaches with Lewis Alessandra and Jonathan Forte both coming off the bench to score in last weekend's 4-2 win at Wycombe.

Accrington sold defender Omar Beckles to Shrewsbury Town earlier in the week but added striker Mallik Wilks on loan from Leeds United.

Tyler Forbes has missed the last three games and fellow Brighton and Hove Albion loanee Tom Dallison picked up an injury in the Carabao Cup defeat to West Bromwich Albion in midweek.

However, Coleman is hopeful on having the pair available for tonight's game.

Dangerman

Kayden Jackson, like many before him, seems to be benefiting from John Coleman's powers of revitalisation with four goals in his first five games for the Reds since his summer move from Championship outfit Barnsley.

The striker struggled to make an impact in south Yorkshire after joining from Wrexham and spent the first half of last season on loan at Grimsby, scoring twice in 24 appearances for the Mariners.

A pacy forward, Jackson admitted the start of his Stanley career could not have gone much better from a personal point of view.

He said: "Everything is going right for me in front of goal and long may it continue but I know I will have to continue working hard to keep it up.

"I'm playing a more central attacking role, which I haven't done at other clubs. Billy Kee, Sean McConville and Jordan Clark make it so easy for me with their balls into the box. I have to make sure I take the chances they create."

We've met before...

Notts' last home win against Stanley came in November 2011 as the Reds were brushed aside 4-1 by a rampant Magpies side in a first round FA Cup tie.

Karl Hawley and Alan Judge had Notts two to the good before Andrew Procter saw red. Alan Sheehan added a third but Luke Joyce pulled a goal back before Hawley's second of the game secured a comfortable passage to the next round.

The most recent meeting between the sides in Nottingham ended 2-0 to the visitors as goals from John O'Sullivan and Rommy Boco meant the three points went back to Lancashire.

What are the odds?

Sky Bet have priced Notts up as 7/5 favourites to pick up a fourth straight win with the visitors seen as the outsiders at 19/10 and the draw at 12/5.

A repeat of last weekend's 4-2 win can be backed at 50/1 with a more conservative 1-0 home victory available at 8/1.

Notts winning to nil is 7/2 or winning with both teams scoring available at 10/3.

Jonathan Forte came off the bench to score the decisive third goal at Adams Park last weekend and could be in line for a starting berth this evening. You can get odds of 13/2 on the attacker being the first name on the scoresheet.

For a more unfancied first goalscorer, Shaun Brisley could be worth a look at 33/1. The defender was denied a second goal of the season last weekend by a last-ditch goalline clearance and is often a threat from set-pieces.

You can bet on the game here.

Supporters who sign up to Sky Bet using this link can help the club financially.


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