Stanley v Altrincham Preview

CONFERENCE table toppers Accrington Stanley take a break from league action and begin what they hope is a productive FA Trophy campaign on Saturday.

The Reds have never had a good run in non-league's top competition being knocked out at the first hurdle for the last three years.

Manager John Coleman has reached the quarter-finals as a player with Morecambe and as a boss with Ashton but would love to turn on the style with Stanley.

"We have just never had much luck but we will be one of the three or four clubs who are favourites to win it," said the manager.

This is especially as they take on relegation-threatened Altrincham at the Interlink in the first round who they have beaten twice already this season.

"We will be expected to win but they will want revenge. They should have beat us at their place and we deserved to win at ours so I think honours are even and it will be a tough game."

Altrincham will have a hard time getting past what has become a miserly Stanley defence who haven't conceded a goal in over six hours of league football.

"We have been working on defence in training," said centre half Robbie Williams. "And it is paying off. We were accused earlier on in the season of letting in too many goals so it is nice to be on the other side of it now.

"All the players want a trophy run. We have watched Burscough play in the final and Grays last year and it is a huge incentive that we could get to a final like that."

Former Alty midfielder Ian Craney returns to the squad after suspension and a shoulder injury leaving Coleman with a selection headache.

"I don't mind them," he added.