Opposition analysed: Accrington Stanley (A)

Everton begin their pre-season campaign on Tuesday night at Accrington Stanley.

The short trip to Accrington will allow David Moyes’ side the chance to blow off the summer cobwebs at the Wham Stadium.

Ahead of the clash, we’ve looked at the Blues’ opposition.

Accrington Stanley - Opposition analysis

Overview

Accrington opened their pre-season campaign with a narrow 2-1 defeat to Lancashire rivals Blackburn Rovers at the weekend. Charlie Caton scored his first goal for the club to equalise, before their Championship opponents found a winner six minutes from time.

Stanley ended the 2024/25 campaign 21st in League Two, though were eight points clear of the relegation places. Coincidentally, both cup campaigns ended against Merseyside opposition, losing to Liverpool (FA Cup) and Tranmere (EFL Cup). This summer, the club have added two permanent free transfers from non-league with Freddie Sass and Isaac Sinclair joining from King’s Lynn Town and Curzon Ashton respectively.

Strengths

Aerial strength and set-piece threat were behind Accrington’s avoidance of relegation out of the Football League last season. No side in League Two averaged more aerial duels won per game (33) than Stanley, who have often favoured a direct approach. John Doolan’s side recorded 37% of their total shots on goal from set-piece situations, with only six League Two sides boasting a larger percentage in 2024/25.

Weaknesses

Possession and chance creation have not been strengths of the Accrington side. Their average of 10 shots per game was the second-lowest in League Two last season, while they ranked 21st of the 24 teams for highest average possession (44,6%). Discipline was also a concern in 2024/25. No team in the division picked up more bookings (130).

Everton-Accrington connections

Current Accrington manager John Doolan is a boyhood Evertonian and spent time working in the academies at Everton and Liverpool before moving into senior management. His coaching career includes replacing Dave Watson as a youth team coach at Wigan, and working as assistant manager to Alan Stubbs at Hibernian and Rotherham United.

The move from Merseyside to Stanley has been a familiar one for loan players. Goalkeeper Billy Crellin spent last season on loan at Accrington from Everton and made 38 appearances. The 25-year-old departed Everton when his contract expired last month.

Arguably the most notable player to have made senior appearances for both clubs is James Beattie. Beattie scored 15 goals in 86 games for the Blues over two-and-a-half seasons, after arriving from Southampton in a £6m deal in 2005. The ex-England forward concluded his career at Accrington, where he scored seven times in 27 games before taking over as manager.

 

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