What a week! Last Tuesday night was superb: Stanley knocked higher league opponents Gillingham out of the FA Cup with such style and passion that all of the 1,300 fans who attended left the Crown Ground with a real sense of optimism for Saturday and the visit of Premier League Fulham.

To say that I was a bit excited about Saturday’s game would be a massive understatement.

The whole town had a smile on its face, and just for a day or two we could forget all our troubles and worries ... for the Premier League was coming to Accrington.

We only had three days to prepare for the historic game and a massive well done must go out to all who helped behind the scenes to make it such a memorable day.

These actions and those of many others all helped to make the Crown Ground full of fans and full of colour come kick-off on Saturday.

John and Jimmy had been on just about every media channel available and Accrington once again had been put on the map for all the right reasons.

The match itself was a real cracker, right up until referee Stuart Attwell decided a lower league club cannot possibly be seen to out play a Premier League giant, and sent off Kempo for a second yellow.

No complaints about the second yellow from me but the first one was a joke.

Stanley did themselves proud and even with 10 men had chances to win it.

Several of the players I am afraid have put themselves in the shop window and I am sure the higher league clubs will be showing interest in them this week before the transfer window closes.

Tonight we entertain Aldershot, and as the old cliché goes we must now concentrate on the league.

With games in hand and, as one Fulham fan said to me after Saturday’s game “a quality set of players” on the pitch, who knows where this cracking season will end! Stanley v Aldershot >>P31