INTERVIEW: To top the group, Coley Reds need a draw or a win over Nottingham Forest Under-21s.
Accrington Stanley play Nottingham Forest Under-21s in the final group game of the Bristol Street Motors Trophy tomorrow, hoping to finish top of the table and earn a home draw in the knockout stages.
The Reds currently lead the group with two wins, and a win or draw tomorrow will confirm this, while Warren Joyce’s side needs a 3-0 win to overtake Stanley.
John Coleman will use the opportunity to shuffle his pack and build on the Reds’ League Two win over Wrexham on Saturday, which moved them back into the Play-Off places.
“Saturday was a big crowd and it’s the big occasion our players and fans feed off,” the Reds manager said.
“It resulted in a good game of football, and we were delighted to win it, but then you have the fallout of not someone’s first team, but players vying for that first team.”
“That presents its own set of issues, and they’ll want to show the manager what they’re capable of, and I’ll have a few players playing for me who’ll be doing the same, so it should be a good game.”
“I adore this competition, and I am desperate to win it, which I doubt many managers would say.”
“It allows us to travel to Wembley and invest money in the club that larger clubs may not require, but it benefits us.”
“It also gives us a chance to blood young players while knowing we are still desperate to win every game of football we play and so they can come into the environment that is so intent on winning that it’s scary.”
Because of the international break, the team Forest sends is a little unknown, but Coleman doesn’t mind.
“It may give their manager the opportunity to play players on the outskirts of their first team, but they can only play four players over the age of 21.”
“It will be interesting to see who they put together.” They are a massive club, so whatever team they field should be good.
“I remember that incredible night in 2006 when Paul Mullin scored the winner here against Nottingham Forest in the Carling Cup.” That was an incredible sensation.”
The prize for winning a group game is £10,000, and Coleman understands how important that is, especially after being eliminated from the FA Cup.
“No amount of financial game could make me want to win a football game more,” Coleman added.
“However, any money you earn must be spent wisely.” We are constantly striving to be a profitable, self-sustaining club, and you do not want to waste money or the opportunity to take money. That’s why losing to Doncaster in the FA Cup was disappointing.
“You can only go out and do your best, and the players who go out tomorrow will be motivated by the opportunity to impress the coaching staff, myself, and the fans, not money.” This competition has a lot to offer.”
