Phil Parkinson applauded another match-winning intervention from super-sub Alan Connell to get City’s holiday campaign off with a bang.

Connell came off the bench to sink ten-man Accrington at Valley Parade yesterday – the second successive home league game when he had delivered the decisive blow.

His header from fellow substitute Kyel Reid’s cross came just four minutes from time after Rommy Boco had cancelled out Garry Thompson’s opener.

Parkinson said: “It was one of those days when it was very tough with the conditions and the heavy pitch. But the lads kept going and got their rewards with a real moment of quality.

“It was a class goal and Alan made the header look easy. But I can assure you, with the pace on the ball that was not the case.

“He won us the game against Torquay, has done it again now and got us a point at Accrington. They are three off the top of my head.

“He was unlucky not to start but I just thought the conditions were more conducive to the pace of Zavon Hines behind (the defence) rather than Alan’s technical ability.”

Hines had to go off with blurred vision after getting scratched in the eye with a fingernail. Nahki Wells, who was also a sub, was struggling with the effects of a stomach bug and had to be replaced himself by Connell.

Parkinson said: “Zav’s vision was affected and he couldn’t see properly. I’ve had that before as a player and it will be painful for the next 24 to 48 hours.

“We hadn’t seen Nahki for seven days so I thought it was best to put him on the bench. He came on a bit sooner than anticipated and didn’t feel great.”

Curtis Good became the latest victim of the bug which has been sweeping the dressing room. Nathan Doyle had hardly been able to eat over the last few days.

Parkinson said: “We’ve had two doses of it now and we’re trying to do everything we can (to stop it spreading).

“A few of the lads live in the same house, so we moved them out and put them in a hotel over Christmas. But it’s hitting everyone hard.

“We hadn’t seen Doyley until yesterday morning, so he did great to play.

“I feel for Curtis because he’s waited for his chance and was going to play but he went down with it just before the game. Let’s hope we get no more phone calls before the weekend.”

Matt Duke saved superbly from Craig Lindfield as Accrington, unbeaten in their previous ten visits to Valley Parade, put on the pressure in the second half.

Stanley boss Leam Richardson complained about defender Dean Winnard’s dismissal for a second bookable offence. He claimed it was given for a handball but Parkinson felt the centre half deserved to go for his foul on Wells.

He said: “I thought it was quite a cynical challenge as Nahki was putting the ball round him. Then one of their players kicked Nahki in the head when he was on the floor, which none of the officials saw but that was right in front of me.

“You’d like to think we could have dominated more against the ten men. But with the conditions and the rain, it was very difficult to get any fluency in our game.

“But we went again and it’s great for us we’ve got subs with the quality of Connell and Reid to come on and win us the game.”