Callum Elder makes his Town debut as manager Paul Lambert makes seven changes to the Blues side for this afternoon’s FA Cup third round tie away against League One Accrington Stanley. Town’s other new signing Will Keane is among the subs.
Bartosz Bialkowski returns in goal with Elder, who joined on loan from Wigan earlier in the week, at left-back and former Accrington man Toto Nsiala making his first appearance under Lambert at the centre of the defence alongside Matthew Pennington. Dean Gerken, Myles Kenlock and previously ever-present skipper Luke Chambers all drop to the bench. Jordan Spence continues at right-back.
Andre Dozzell and Jon Nolan join Flynn Downes in midfield with Kayden Jackson, who moved to Town from Stanley in the summer, the central striker with Freddie Sears, who will be wearing the captain’s armband for the first time, on the left and Gwion Edwards on the right.
Teddy Bishop and Jack Lankester join Keane, who signed on loan from Hull yesterday, among the subs but there is no place in the 18 for Janoi Donacien, who also joined Town from Accrington in the summer, or Jonas Knudsen, who is expected to leave during the January window.
The Blues’ last win in an FA Cup tie came back in January 2010 when they beat Blackpool 2-1 in the third round at Bloomfield Road during Roy Keane’s time in charge. Since then they have played 13 games (including replays) without recording a victory.
Accrington: Ripley, Johnson, Sykes, Hughes, Richards-Everton, Clark, Finley, Barlaser, McConville (c), Mangan, Kee. Subs: Maxted, Brown, Williams, Mingoia, Perritt, Conneely, Watson.
Town: Bialkowski, Spence, Nsiala, Pennington, Elder, Dozzell, Downes, Nolan, Edwards, Sears (c), Jackson. Subs: Gerken, Chambers, Harrison, Keane, Bishop, Kenlock, Lankester. Referee: Dean Whitestone (Northamptonshire).