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

Standing in their way in the third round on Saturday are League One side Accrington Stanley, who have never progressed beyond the fourth round.

Match preview

Having stunned Joey Barton's Bristol Rovers 2-0 away from home in the second round, Boreham Wood boss Luke Garrard will be determined to inflict yet another upset when his side host Accrington at Meadow Park on Saturday.

Despite winning just one of their last 10 matches in the National League, the Wood have found the magic touch in the FA Cup in recent seasons, having beaten the likes of Blackpool, AFC Wimbledon and Bournemouth within the last five years.

Indeed, it took Frank Lampard's Everton side to stop them at Goodison Park in the fifth round last year, which was a historic run for a club that is still very much putting itself on the map in the English footballing landscape.

While reaching the Football League remains the club's number one priority, there is little doubt about the financial rewards which a run in the FA Cup can bring to a club like Boreham Wood, who will fancy their chances once again this weekend.

Likewise, though, Accrington are significantly punching above their weight to have remained in League One since winning League Two in the 2017-18 season, with John Coleman set in stone as a Stanley hero for life having successfully managed them since 2014.

The 60-year-old has seen his side fall at the fourth round of the FA Cup on two occasions during his tenure, losing 1-0 to Middlesbrough and Derby in 2017 and 2019 respectively.

Having lost two successive matches in League One, where they only remain outside of the relegation places on goal difference, Coleman will be desperate to avoid being on the wrong end of an upset against non-league opposition when they travel to Hertfordshire this weekend.

Moreover, he would surely love the opportunity to face one of the giants of English football in the next round, with the chance to make history and take Accrington to the fifth round for the first ever time a distinct possibility should they progress on Saturday.

Boreham Wood FA Cup form:

W

W

Boreham Wood form (all competitions):

L

W

L

W

L

D

Accrington Stanley FA Cup form:

W

W

Accrington Stanley form (all competitions):

W

D

W

D

L

L

Team News

After being shown a straight red card during his side's defeat to Barnet on Boxing Day, Bruno Andrade will serve the second part of a three-match suspension against Accrington.

Femi Ilesanmi is available once again, though, having missed out in the reverse encounter against the Bees last time having also been sent off at the Hive Stadium, but his red card was as a result of two yellow cards.

Accrington, meanwhile, will travel without midfielder Joe Pritchard, who is continuing his rehabilitation from an Achilles tendon rupture.

After being thrashed 4-0 by Derby County on Monday, Coleman is likely to hand several fringe players an opportunity to impress him on Saturday, with the likes of Sean McConville and Harry Perritt both hoping for starts.

Boreham Wood possible starting lineup:

Ashmore; Bush, Fyfield, Evans; Coxe, Broadbent, Rees, Payne, Lewis; Newton, Ndlovu

Accrington Stanley possible starting lineup:

Savin; Fernandes, Conneely, Rodgers; Clark, Longelo, Coyle, Leigh, Hamilton; Whalley, Adedoyin

We say: Boreham Wood 1-0 Accrington Stanley

With Accrington heading into this cup match in poor form in League One, we expect to see a tight affair at Meadow Park.

With their confidence surely boosted by last season's cup run - as well as their victory against Bristol Rovers in the previous round - it would be no surprise to see another upset ensue in favour of the hosts.

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