ACCRINGTON Stanley are hoping for progression in the Carling Cup after they were handed a home tie against Walsall in the first round rather than a lucrative away day.

Cash-strapped Stanley will host the League One club on Tuesday, August 11, and Reds chief executive Rob Heys said: “With cup draws there are flip sides and if we’d drawn West Brom away we’d have been struggling to progress.

“As it is, Walsall are in League One and you’ve got to think you’ve got a chance, certainly playing at home.

“We always seem to do well in the Carling Cup and obviously there are Premier League sides in the next round.”

The draw for the first round of the Carling Cup is: Accrington Stanley v Walsall; Huddersfield v Stockport; Rotherham v Derby; Tranmere v Grimsby; Sheff Weds v Rochdale; Bury v West Brom; Notts County v Doncaster; Lincoln v Barnsley; Scunthorpe v Chesterfield; Coventry v Hartlepool; Darlington v Leeds; Preston v Morecambe; Crewe v Blackpool; Carlisle v Oldham; Nottm Forest v Bradford; Macclesfield v Leicester; Sheff Utd v Port Vale; Cardiff v Dag & Red; Wycombe v Peterborough; Southampton v Northampton; Barnet v Watford; Hereford v Charlton; Bristol Rovers v Aldershot; Millwall v Bournemouth; Gillingham v Plymouth; Colchester v Leyton Orient; Reading v Burton Albion; Exeter v QPR; Cheltenham v Southend; Brentford v Bristol City; Yeovil v Norwich; Crystal Palace v Torquay; MK Dons v Swindon; Swansea v Brighton; Shrewsbury v Ipswich. Ties to be played week commencing 10th August.