Team news

Craney back in Stanley frame Ian Craney is back in contention to start when Paul Cook takes charge of Accrington for the first time against Plymouth.

Craney was left out as a precaution for Tuesday night's 1-0 defeat at Rotherham after complaining of discomfort just weeks after returning from a broken ankle.

Defender Sean Hessey has not trained all week as he continues to struggle with a hamstring problem but otherwise Cook has a full squad to choose from in what he believes will be a stern test for his new side at the Crown Ground.

"It's a very tough challenge," he said. "They are fighting for their lives and teams that are fighting for their lives don't lie down and die.

"They will come here and they will want to get three points. It's important that we are organsised and we do what we can do to affect the game." Plymouth should be able to call on Joe Lennox.

The midfielder missed the Pilgrims' goalless draw with Barnet on Tuesday night because of illness but is expected to return to contention for a place in the matchday squad at the Crown Ground.

Argyle manager Carl Fletcher is likely to be without Warren Feeney, however, as the forward is struggling with a calf problem.

After putting in a man-of-the-match display on his full debut in midweek, on-loan striker Alex MacDonald will be hoping to keep his in the wake of pressure from Juvhel Tsoumou and Craig Sutherland.

Accrington Stanley vs Plymouth

Last modified 17:32 18/02/12

Cook done four New Accrington boss Paul Cook endured an opening game to forget as struggling Plymouth inflicted a 4-0 home defeat thanks to a brace from on-loan striker Alex MacDonald.

The Burnley frontman pounced in the third minute, taking the ball off Stanley defender Toto Nsiala on edge of area, before passing to strike partner Nick Chadwick who returned the favour for MacDonald to finish from eight yards out.

MacDonald then doubled his side's lead in the 24th minute when a long-range shot from Chadwick was only parried by goalkeeper Ian Dunbavin and the forward pounced to fire home his third in three games.

Cook, appointed this week, would have been shell-shocked as Stanley offered little up front in the first half.

Pilgrims winger Ashley Hemmings hit the crossbar with a cross shortly after the restart before Stanley's new loan signing Jamie Devitt had a 20-yard effort tipped over by `keeper Romain Larrieu.

But centre-back Darren Purse added to Cook's misery with a third after 72 minutes when he headed home Paul Wotton's free-kick.