We can beat leaders Rochdale again, says Accrington Stanley goal hero (From Lancashire Telegraph)

We can beat leaders Rochdale again, says Accrington Stanley goal hero

10:12am Friday 19th March 2010 in

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VICTORY at Rochdale in October will live long in the memory of fans of Accrington Stanley, and Jimmy Ryan sees no reason why the Reds cannot complete a remarkable double over League Two’s runaway leaders tomorrow.

When Stanley supporters travelled to Spotland, they did so not knowing whether it could be the club’s final game.

The Reds were due in the High Court four days later, and they did not have the money they needed to pay off their tax debts.

Fans traipsed 16 miles over the moors to the game in a bid to raise much-needed funds, and they were rewarded with one of the their team’s finest performances of the season.

Bobby Grant put them ahead and Michael Symes’ 35-yard wonder volley, over the head of former Reds keeper Kenny Arthur, sealed a victory that has looked even more impressive as Rochdale’s season has gone from strength to strength ever since.

Dale make the return journey tomorrow, with many of their fans also travelling on foot for charity, to face a Stanley side who are right back in the play-off race after Tuesday’s triumph at home to Rotherham – having stabilised their financial position after surviving that fateful High Court hearing by the skin of their teeth.

Jimmy Ryan scored a late winner on Tuesday, and he is in no doubt that Stanley can claim all three points against Rochdale.

“It was a sticky time for the club and the players,” he recalled of that Spotland win.

“But as players we could do nothing about the decisions that went on off the pitch.

“We just had to concentrate on what we could do on the pitch and hopefully keep ourselves in the league.

“Now, if there’s any luck, we could be in the league above through the play-offs.

“I just remember Symesy’s great goal from that game and we worked so hard.

“We did well there and won, so I don’t see why we can’t win at our own place. If we play the way we want, no-one in this league can stop us.”

Ryan was dropped at Barnet on Saturday but came off the bench to help Stanley recover from 1-0 down with 10 men to claim victory.

His reward was a start against Rotherham, which he justified with a goal.

“I was aiming to score more this season,” said the midfielder, who notched 10 last year but has only four so far this campaign.

“I was aiming for eight, maybe that would be a bit too much to ask now but I’ll be aiming for it.

“Tuesday was a massive result. I think we’ve had lots of great results this season.

“Obviously Rochdale is up there with but there was Notts County away as well.

“We think that we’re one of the best in the league when we play our own game. The results have shown that.

“When we went down to 10 men and we won at Barnet, it gave us the belief.

“We went into Tuesday’s game thinking, ‘We’ve got an extra man now, why can’t we do it again?’”

Tomorrow’s game is all ticket. Fans must buy tickets by 5pm tonight.