Accrington vs Derby preview: Owner welcomes bumper payday

Accrington owner Andy Holt laid bare the financial realities of his third-tier outfit as he welcomed the bumper paydays the FA Cup can generate.

While many Premier League clubs can afford to pay their talent six-figure salaries every week, Stanley, currently 14th in Sky Bet League One, have an annual turnover of around £2-3million.

The prospect of a £400,000 injection of cash for overcoming visitors Derby in the FA Cup fourth round on Saturday (kick-off 12.30pm) is therefore welcomed by Holt.

Accrington dumped Ipswich Town out of the competition in round three.

Holt said: "We're fairly clear-focused, which makes me different to virtually every other owner.

"My success is building a great club that's great for Accrington and great for the community, something that's going to last long into the future.

"Another owner might judge success by getting into the Premier League, I've never made promises to get to the Championship.

"I'm not saying I don't want to, I've got the ambition, but the over-riding ambition is that we still have a great little club here. That's really the job."

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Team news

Acrrington have a fully-fit squad ahead of Saturday's tie. Goalkeeper Jonathan Maxted has had his suspension withdrawn with immediate effect after his appeal of wrongful dismissal against Charlton was successful.

Tom Lawrence (hamstring), Scott Carson (knee) and Andre Wisdom (groin) have all been ruled out but Frank Lampard hopes they will return to training next weekend.

Florian Jozefzoon is fit again after a knee problem.

Lampard confirmed new signing Ashley Cole won't be in the squad this weekend as he continues to step up his match fitness.

Opta stats

• Accrington Stanley and Derby County have never met previously in any competition.
• Derby have progressed from each of their last four FA Cup ties against sides from a lower division, last losing in January 2011 against Crawley Town.
• Accrington Stanley have not reached the FA Cup fifth round in their current form, losing at the fourth round stage twice previously (in 2009-10 against Fulham and 2016-17 against Middlesbrough).
• Derby have only reached the FA Cup fifth round in four of the previous 19 seasons and haven't done so since the 2014-15 campaign.
• Accrington striker Billy Kee has been involved in six goals in his last eight FA Cup games (4 goals, 2 assists), scoring in each of the last two rounds against Cheltenham Town and Ipswich Town.

Merson's prediction

Derby have shown they can beat good team in the cup and they will not want to lose to a lower league side. Accrington do not score enough goals to trouble teams.

PAUL PREDICTS: 0-2 (15/2 with Sky Bet)

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