Accrington Stanley boss still eyeing new faces
11:20am Wednesday 6th March 2013 in Sport
By Chris Flanagan, Sports reporter
ACCRINGTON Stanley boss Leam Richardson is still hoping to add to his squad before the closure of the loan window – despite an upturn in form in recent matches.
Stanley have gone unbeaten in three games, their longest run of the season, to climb out of the relegation zone ahead of Saturday’s trip to Northampton.
But Richardson remains on the look-out for loan deals ahead of the March 28 deadline, with a striker and a defender likely to be on his wish list – particularly with centre back Mark Hughes almost certain to be ruled out for the rest of the season because of injury.
“I feel we need to add another couple to get over the line,” said the Stanley boss. “It’s important that we don’t stand still. We want to carry on moving up the table.
“But I don’t want to add just for numbers’ sake. I want to make us better and stronger individually and collectively.
“We’ll try to get somebody in the door. Whether I can do that or not I don’t know. It’s both ends of the team I think we can try to strengthen to be better.”
Richardson, though, has been impressed with the way Tom Aldred has replaced Hughes so far – helping the Reds to consecutive clean sheets.
“Mark Hughes did well and he’s a big miss because he’s a good player and he’s got experience,” said the manager.
“But Tom Aldred has come in for the last two games now and done smashing. I’m really pleased with that.
“We’ve done quite a bit of work on the training pitch, not just the back four and the keeper.
“Every member of the team knows their role defensively and you can see that with the clean sheets.”
Richardson hopes left back Michael Liddle will be available again at the weekend after missing Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Torquay through injury.
But Richardson believes a relatively settled team has helped in recent games, after a number of new additions in January.
“People build relationships around the pitch and find each other’s strengths and weaknesses and we are getting better and better,” he said.
“I think it’s important. You look through any league, any trophy that’s been won, you’ll see teams who have more or less fielding an 11 week-in week-out.
“That goes even as far back as myself when we won the Conference here.
“We could more or less pick the same 11 and I think it’s massive.”
Stanley play three vital home games in the space of eight days after the Northampton game.
They host Fleetwood on Tuesday, Barnet four days later and AFC Wimbledon on March 19.
The club are offering a ticket package for all three games for a reduced price of £30 for adults and £20 for concessions. Packages must be purchased by Monday.
