Phil Yelland takes a look at how The Bluebirds have got on during previous trips to face Accrington Stanley over the years.
This evening we head to what older supporters will remember as The Crown Ground for our first competitive meeting with Accrington Stanley at that venue since September 2002. On that occasion, the home side won 2-1 on their way to lifting the UniBond Premier Division title and a journey which continued upwards all the way to League One.
As supporters may well know, one of Stanley’s current stalwarts played for us in the 2012/13 season. Sean McConville has gone on to make over 200 for Accrington during his second spell with the club.
Our history with Stanley goes back a long way to the original club which dropped out of the Football League in March 1962. We played them in various competitions no fewer than 83 times, winning 33, drawing 14 and losing 36.
Our first meeting after they reformed came in September 1973 in the FA Cup First Qualifying Round at Holker Street when we were struggling at the wrong end of the Northern Premier League. Stanley were in the Lancashire Combination and they ran out 4-0 winners.
In all, as non-league sides we met 25 times, each winning 11 times with three draws. Our last win at Accrington came in August 2001 when we triumphed 3-0 thanks to two goals from a young Grant Holt and a penalty from Ian Duerden.
Of course, last season we also met in the Group stages of the Papa John’s Trophy, the difference being we were at home and lost 1-0. We had chances and missed a penalty in that game.
Hopefully, we can gain some revenge for that defeat this evening.