Preview: Accrington Stanley vs. Morecambe - prediction, team news, lineups

Morecambe will be looking to make it back-to-back wins in League One when they continue their campaign away to Accrington Stanley on Saturday afternoon.

The visitors will enter the match off the back of a 3-2 victory over high-flying Wycombe Wanderers, while Accrington suffered a 2-1 defeat to Ipswich Town last time out.

Match preview

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Accrington's five-game unbeaten run in League One came to an end last weekend when they suffered a 2-1 defeat at Ipswich, with the hosts coming from behind to triumph after Ethan Hamilton had broken the deadlock.

A record of 10 wins, six draws and 11 defeats from 27 matches has seen Stanley collect 36 points to occupy 13th position in the table, 10 points off the top six and nine clear of the relegation zone.

John Coleman's side, who finished 11th in the third tier last season, have collected eight points from their last four home league fixtures, beating Bolton Wanderers and Rotherham United, in addition to drawing with MK Dons and Sunderland.

Accrington are also unbeaten in their last four league matches against Morecambe, winning three times during that run, but the points were shared in a pulsating 3-3 draw at Mazuma Stadium in the reverse match back in September.

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Morecambe, meanwhile, will enter the match off the back of a 3-2 win over promotion-chasing Wycombe last weekend, with Cole Stockton netting the game's decisive goal in the 67th minute.

The visitors remain in the relegation zone, boasting just 27 points from 27 matches, but they are only a point behind 20th-placed AFC Wimbledon and only four points behind 16th-placed Lincoln City.

Morecambe secured a spot in League One via last season's League Two playoffs, so avoiding relegation back to the fourth tier was always going to be the number one priority this term, and finishing in 20th would be seen as a hugely successful campaign.

Stephen Robinson's side have only won two of their 12 away league matches this season, which is a concern ahead of this game, with Accrington picking up 24 points from 14 games in front of their own supporters.

Morecambe will have been boosted by their success over Wycombe, though, and will be looking to put another three points on the board ahead of a trip to Sheffield Wednesday on February 1.

Team News

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Accrington boss Coleman is expected to recall Ross Sykes to his starting XI, with the defender missing out against Ipswich last time out through suspension.

Sykes for Jay Rich-Bagheulou may be the only change to the side that took to the field for the first whistle last weekend, with the hosts set to continue in a 4-3-3 formation.

Hamilton was on the scoresheet against Ipswich and will retain his spot in midfield, while the team's leading goalscorer in League One this season, Colby Bishop, will continue at centre-forward.

As for Morecambe, head coach Robinson will have been delighted with what he saw against Wycombe last time out, so it would not be a surprise to see the same starting XI here.

Two of the front three - Stockton and Jonah Ayunga - were on the scoresheet in the 3-2 success, and the pair should start once again, with Arthur Gnahoua also featuring in an attacking area.

Ousmane Fane is perhaps the only player seriously pushing for a spot in the XI, but Aaron Wildig should again hold off pressure from the Frenchman to feature in midfield.

Accrington Stanley possible starting lineup:
Savin; Clark, Sykes, Nottingham, Amankwah; Pell, Butcher, Hamilton; O'Sullivan, Bishop, McConville

Morecambe possible starting lineup:
Carson; Cooney, O'Connor, Bedeau, Leigh; McLoughlin, Diagouraga, Wildig; Ayunga, Stockton, Gnahoua

We say: Accrington Stanley 2-2 Morecambe

This has all of the makings of an entertaining game of football, and we are predicting goals this weekend. Morecambe were excellent against Wycombe, but Accrington have been impressive at home in recent weeks, and we are backing a high-scoring draw at Wham Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

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