EFL League One Preview 2020/21: Accrington Stanley, AFC Wimbledon, Blackpool, Bristol Rovers

All four of these teams had their high points but also no doubt their low points. The thing they have in common is they all finished in the bottom half of the table but hopefully a better season for them all awaits in 2020/21.

Here is our pre-season preview for Accrington Stanley, AFC Wimbledon, Blackpool & Bristol Rovers.

Accrington Stanley

Tipped by many to suffer relegation immediately following their somewhat shock promotion from League Two, the Stanley survived their first season rather well despite on paper only being eight points clear of relegated side Tranmere Rovers. It’s also worth highlighting that Stanley managed the joint-highest win in League One last season with a 7-1 victory over Bolton Wanderers in November of 2019. Another season awaits no doubt which will surely be as equally a struggle but one can hope the club will survive into another season in League One.
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Transfers

Accrington saw a number of players depart at the end of the season however the most high profile departure is Jordan Clark who signed for Luton Town on a free transfer after four years at the club and making 162 appearances.

However all isn’t lost as Cameron Burgess and Matt Butcher have signed for the club on permanent deals from Scunthorpe and Bournemouth whilst Ryan Cassidy, Thomas Allan and Mohamed Sangare on season-long loans from Watford and Newcastle.

Targets

Another season at mid-table looks more than likely for the club who should be able to steer clear of relegation. Anything higher than finishing 12th and it would be deemed as a fantastic year given how tough the league is set to be following the relegations of Wigan, Charlton and Hull from the Championship.

Key Player

Sean McConville has been a regular and good player for Stanley since returning in 2015 which makes him one of the longest-serving players no doubt at the club. Another good season by the 31-year-old will be expected if Stanley wish to avoid the drop.

Youth Prospect

Ross Sykes – a tall centre-back, fantastic in the air, maturing young leader who has learned a lot from a more experienced head in Mark Hughes.

AFC Wimbledon

Another side tipped by many to suffer relegation, the Wombles of Wimbledon survived another season in League One at the expense of Tranmere Rovers through points per game. It’s also worth highlighting that the Wombles are set to move back to South London in the coming months but in the meantime, they will be playing at nearby Loftus Road which is home of Queens Park Rangers. However, another season filled with struggles potentially awaits for the club should their signings get injured during the season for a prolonged period.
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Transfers

The Wombles saw 11 players including Anthony Wordsworth depart the club in the summer as manager Glyn Hodges had a massive clearout. However, the biggest incoming signing is that of Peterborough United player Alex Woodyard alongside that of Ollie Palmer, Cheye Alexander and Ethan Chislett from Crawley, Barnet and Aldershot.

The Wombles have also managed to bring in Connal Trueman, Jaakko Okansen and Ryan Longman on loans from Birmingham, Brentford and Brighton.

Targets

Another season towards the bottom half of the table looks likely but after the move into Plough Lane potentially come October, things should be a bit more solid for the club. Especially once fans are allowed back into grounds, that extra space for fans will come in as a much needed time financially given prior to this summer, Wimbledon’s capacity at Kingsmeadow was just over 4,000 which was the smallest ground in the division.

Key Player

New signing Alex Woodyard has been at Lincoln and Peterborough in the past few seasons which were well run clubs during his time there and with him at the heart of the Wimbledon squad, he looks sure to bring in that leadership he learned during his time elsewhere whilst controlling the midfield well throughout.

Youth Prospect

Ryan Longman – The 19-year-old loanee from Brighton is a right-winger who looks tipped for big things in the future. Even on a season-long loan, this could be a brilliant season for him to learn and adapt once more.

Blackpool

A season full of hope saw the Tangerines of Blackpool fall to a 13th place finish as the club missed out on pushing for a play-off place. Simon Grayson was sacked during the season with Liverpool coach Neil Critchley coming in and bringing in a fresh wave of optimism. This season is one where they will hope to do better.
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Transfers

Neil Critchley like Glyn Hodges has had a massive clearout with 12 players moving onto new pastures including Nathan Delfouneso signing for League Two side Bolton Wanderers alongside Jay Spearing who was released alongside four players who have been shipped out on season loans to clubs in League Two and the National League.

Leyton Orient man Marvin Ekpiteta has signed on a free transfer after two years at Brisbane Road whilst former-Liverpool trainee Jordan Williams has also signed from Rochdale alongside six other players.

Targets

Neil Critchley has done a good job so far at Blackpool but this season needs to be one where they are pushing for a play-off place whilst finishing in the top half of the table will be the minimum of expectations no doubt.

Key Player

New signing Keshi Anderson who joined from Swindon Town looks a good combination. With a lot of the older, deadwood squad gone, Anderson, who is 25, looks to be a good fit for the club given he has spent the last four seasons playing in League Two. Anderson has got an eye for creativity and no doubt will look a threat for this season.

Youth Prospect

Jack Sims is a fantastic goalkeeper who stood up to the plate for the Tangerines when first-choice keeper Jak Alnwick got injured on Boxing Day 2019. The 21-year-old from Essex could finally see his break into the starting eleven should he continue to work hard throughout on the pitch. Sims has also featured during pre-season so expect him to be featuring at some point in the season whether it be even in the EFL Trophy or EFL Cup.

Bristol Rovers

A season where change was in the air throughout, the 2019/20 season started with Graham Gloughan in charge before he departed for Mansfield Town. After a good start in the play-off places being fought out, the Gas of Bristol Rovers slowed down and ended up finishing in a modest 14th place.
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Transfers

22 players have departed Rovers this summer with ten of those players finding new clubs already however there have been nine new signings of which one is a loan deal made. The biggest signing has got to be Josh Grant joining on a free transfer from Chelsea whilst Jayden Mitchell-Lawson has joined on loan from Derby County.

In recent weeks, Bristol Rovers saw Jonson Clarke-Harris move to fellow League One side Peterborough United in a report £1.25 million pound deal.

Targets

Ben Garner has done a great job so far at Bristol Rovers and a top-half is perfectly achievable no doubt however anything higher may be a step too far. Providing things go well for the club, it won’t be hard to think they could push the bigger sides for one of the final play-off spots.

Key Player

Max Ehmer was a fantastic player for Gillingham last season and joined this summer after five years at the Kent club where he made over 200 appearances. With the experience he has got, Rovers should be sure of keeping a good clean sheet throughout this season.

Youth Prospect

Rovers have got a few in the form of Zain Walker who is a good attacking midfielder and has had a good pre-season. Alfie Kilgour established himself as a centre-back last season but there is room to improve further whilst a lot of Gas fans have got an eye for Cameron Hargreaves alongside James Daly.

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