League Two weekend preview

by James Martin , 10 April 2009

Brentford v Exeter

Brentford striker Charlie MacDonald will play no part in The Bees' top-of-the-table clash with Exeter after aggravating a dislocated shoulder suffered against Gillingham last month.

With Nathan Elder out with a long-term facial injury and Ipswich loanee Jordan Rhodes also on the treatment table, Brentford boss Andy Scott will now pin his attacking hopes on loan duo Sam Williams and Damian Spencer.

Exeter could be boosted by the return of Matt Taylor after the defender declared himself fit following three weeks on the sidelines with a broken metatarsal.

However, midfielder Neil Saunders will miss the trip to Griffin Park after injuring his knee in the reserves while Richard Logan is pushing for a start up-front ahead of Adam Stansfield.

Wycombe v Gillingham

Gillingham boss Mark Stimson will hand winger Andy Barcham a late fitness test as The Gills bid to get their automatic promotion hopes back on track against second-place Wycombe.

The 22-year-old aggravated an ankle injury during last weekend’s loss to Barnet and could be forced to watch from the stands alongside midfielder Adam Miller – who is yet to recover from a knee injury.

Wycombe welcome back midfielder Tommy Doherty from a four-game ban while former Chelsea defender Frank Sinclair replaces former Gillingham defender Leon Johnson at the back.

Skipper David McCracken continues his recovery from a groin injury in defence as well and midfielder Stuart Beavon is pushing to start after returning to training this week.

Rochdale v Port Vale

Port Vale striker Marc Richards and defender Gareth Owen are both in contention to start against Rochdale after returning to training this week.

Owen is ahead of Richards in the pecking order after impressing in training following his return from an ankle injury but defender Luke Prosser misses out through suspension.

Rochdale boss Keith Hill has vowed to reshuffle his pack against The Valiants as they go in search of their first win in four at Spotland.

Keeper James Spencer is unavailable after joining Chester on a week-to-week loan basis but Grimsby loanee Tom Newey, Will Buckley and Chris Dagnall all look set to start.

Chesterfield v Darlington

Chesterfield boss Lee Richardson has received a boost prior to the visit of Darlington with midfielder Lewis Montrose available for selection.

The 20-year-old Wigan loanee looked set to miss the rest of the season after suffering suspected knee ligament damage against Macclesfield last weekend, however scans revealed the injury was not as bad as first feared.

Darlington boss Dave Penney will make changes for the trip to Saltergate after admitting The Quakers have nothing left to play for this season.

Winger Josh Gray and 16-year-old midfielder Curtis Main are both set to start while striker Dan Riley, Dan Groves and Corey Barnes are all also included in the match day 16.

Dagenham & Redbridge v Aldershot

Striker Paul Benson will be hoping Dagenham boss John Still hands him his first start since shrugging off a knee injury against Aldershot.

Benson has had to settle for a place on the bench during The Daggers' last two games but with two games in three days over the Easter weekend could start against The Shots.

Aldershot have just one absentee with defender Anthony Charles serving the final game of a two-match ban for collecting ten yellow cards.

Lincoln v Luton

Lincoln boss Peter Jackson is set to pick a youthful squad after striker Adrian Patulea and Anthony Elding were both ruled out of the visit of Luton.

Patulea will watch from the stands with a hamstring strain while Elding has returned to Crewe following a loan spell at Sincil Bank with Jackson set to give youngsters Andy Hutchinson and Nathan Adams the nod.

Meanwhile there are no Johnstone’s Paint Trophy final casualties for Luton with boss Mick Harford spoilt for choice for the trip north.

Midfielder Kevin Nicholls continues to skipper The Hatters and quartet Kevin Gallen, Ian Henderson, David Livermore and Mark Bower are all pushing to start after missing last weekend’s final win against Scunthorpe.

Rotherham v Notts County

Notts County boss Ian McParland will wait until the 11th hour before deciding on the fitness of defensive duo Stephen Hunt and Michael Johnson.

Hunt and Johnson are both battling to shrug off ankle and calf injuries respectively while striker Jonathan Forte could also miss out after missing training through illness.

Rotherham welcome back defender Jamie Green from injury at The Don Valley Stadium while striker Jamie Clarke and strikers Mark Hudson and Michael Cummins are pushing to start.

Grimsby v Accrington

Grimsby boss Mike Newell has no fresh injury worries and will choose from a fully fit side as The Mariners bid to extend their unbeaten run to four against Accrington.

Oldham loanee Jean-Paul Kalala and Paul Bolland are still sidelined with long-term injuries as Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro and Barry Conlon continue in attack.

Accrington duo Peter Cavanagh and Robbie Williams are both set to start at Blundell Park despite being charged by the FA for breaching rules on betting.

However, Stanley boss John Coleman will be without a host of faces with Peter Murphy (knee), Leam Richardson (pelvis), Ian Dunbavin (groin) and Chris King (thigh) all sidelined.

Barnet v Bournemouth

Barnet boss Ian Hendon will have to make do without John O’Flynn for the clash against Bournemouth after the striker suffered a hamstring injury.

The 26-year-old has been absent from training and is unlikely to feature at all over Easter with fellow front-man Adam Birchall set to partner Southend loanee Paul Furlong in attack.

Meanwhile Bournemouth will again be without midfielder Marvin Bartley at Underhill with a groin injury that is threatening to rule him out for the rest of the season.

Midfielder Sammy Igoe has moved one step closer to a shock return after shrugging off a torn hamstring but striker Steve Fletcher looks set to miss out with a knee injury.

Chester v Macclesfield

Rochdale keeper James Spencer will make his debut for Chester after answering The Seals rallying cry and joining on a week-to-week loan basis.

Striker Ryan Lowe stood in for John Danby after he was carried off against Notts County last weekend but will not be needed between the sticks following Spencer’s arrival.

Macclesfield boss Keith Alexander faces a selection headache as The Silkmen bid to heap more misery on relegation threatened Chester.

Francis Green and John Rooney are both vying to partner Gareth Evans in attack while Izak Reid could start in midfield after playing for the reserves.

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Pos
Team P W D L GD PTS
1.
Arsenal
0
0
0
0
0
0
2.
Aston Villa
0
0
0
0
0
0
3.
Birmingham
0
0
0
0
0
0
4.
Blackburn
0
0
0
0
0
0
5.
Bolton
0
0
0
0
0
0
6.
Burnley
0
0
0
0
0
0
7.
Chelsea
0
0
0
0
0
0
8.
Everton
0
0
0
0
0
0
9.
Fulham
0
0
0
0
0
0
10.
Hull
0
0
0
0
0
0
11.
Liverpool
0
0
0
0
0
0
12.
Man City
0
0
0
0
0
0
13.
Man Utd
0
0
0
0
0
0
14.
Portsmouth
0
0
0
0
0
0
15.
Stoke
0
0
0
0
0
0
16.
Sunderland
0
0
0
0
0
0
17.
Tottenham
0
0
0
0
0
0
18.
West Ham
0
0
0
0
0
0
19.
Wigan
0
0
0
0
0
0
20.
Wolverhampton
0
0
0
0
0
0
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