Promotion hopefuls Accrington Stanley face a tough trip to Plymouth Argyle on Saturday

John Coleman’s Accrington will hope to build on their important victory at home to Hull as they travel to Devon.

Stanley have four games in hand on their Saturday opponents, and as many on their playoff challenge-rivals also.

Coleman will look to this as a good opportunity to draw closer to Charlton Athletic, who currently occupy the final play-off place.

Ryan Lowe’s Argyle sit in 14th place, six places lower than their opposition, and seven points off the play-off places, without the luxury of games in hand.

The outgoing Dom Telford, who has departed for Newport County, will leave his squad without another attacking option. Luke Jephcott has been the main man for his side this season with 13 goals, with the nearest other top scorers only scoring three.

Whilst both sides are differing in where they see their season’s ending, they have had pretty similar campaigns.

Plymouth have an expected goals for of 1.5xG with Accrington almost identical with 1.51xG. On the concession standpoint, Arygle sit with 1.45xGA, their Lancashire counterparts with a slightly healthier 1.37xGA. Having said that it gives the impression that they are fairly even in their actual performances.

The clear difference between both is that, despite their even nature of creating chances, Plymouth are overly reliant on one player to put those away, compared to Accrington.

Coleman’s side have Dion Charles, Colby Bishop and Joe Pritchard all contributing to their goals tally with seven, five and four respectively, whereas the aforementioned Jephcott is the only real provider of goals for Lowe’s team.

This is something that you would expect the Devon side to address before the end of the transfer window, but with the days counting down it is looking less likely and you have to think a promotion push would be off the cards if that is the case.

John Coleman’s Accrington have been the story of the League One campaign so far with their perceived overachievement when it comes to their budget, with one of the lowest in the league.

The story becomes even more impressive when you realise Coleman deals with transfers on his own, scouting potential targets off of his own back and it has paid dividends.

Dion Charles, an ex-Blackpool youth talent, signed from National League North side Southport for an undisclosed fee, with other star man Colby Bishop signing from Leamington, in the same division as Southport. Both of which showcase the eye for a player that Coleman has had with such a limited budget.

He has an incredible chance to take Stanley to the Championship for the first time in their history and you would not bet against them. They are well organised, fluid in their play and clear in their identity.

Whether it be Michael Nottingham’s intelligent positioning to break up play and feed progressive passes into the midfield from centre half, or Sean McConville being the experience in the midfield, with a combative approach putting pressure on the opposition, each and every player plays their part in this system.

Argyle are a tough test, particularly away from home, but Accrington have to be seen as the favourites for this one.

The two defeats in a row to Gillingham and Hull respectively were seen as the wobble that should be expected and that they would resort back to their mean, but the revenge win over Grant McCann’s side has shown they have a relentlessness and resilience that is required of a team that is putting in a serious challenge.

Despite the case for Stanley being a strong one in this game, Plymouth are going to be confident in their chances of getting something from this. Purely because of experience. They have done this, they know what it takes to beat tough sides in this division.

Ryan Lowe has implemented a clear structure and you know exactly what you get with Argyle. They have stumbled on occasion but he is able to get the best out of what he has.

Luke Jephcott, as always, will be the key in this one and he needs to be able to take his chances clinically when they arrive if Plymouth want to get something out of this game. The same can be said for Accrington.

Both sides will create and concede chances and goals are expected in this game with the chances that have been conceded throughout the season. And whilst it isn’t a must-win for Stanley just yet, it has to be thought that if promotion is on the cards, these are the sorts of games you have to win.

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