League Two preview

by setanta.com staff , 24 April 2009

Brentford, Wycombe and Exeter could all secure promotion to League One this weekend if results go their way.

Port Vale v Wycombe

Wycombe could secure promotion at Vale Park if they beat struggling Port Vale who have not scored in over six and a half hours of football.

Peter Taylor could welcome back influential midfielder Tommy Doherty while striker Chris Zebroski may also be in line for a place in the bench following a spell on the sidelines.

The Valiants meanwhile are on a terrible run which have seen the pressure increase on manager Dean Glover with no win in eight games.

His troubles increased with the news that striker Marc Richards will be out for their two remaining games while defenders Luke Prosser, Gareth Owen and Anthony Griffith are all doubts.

Darlington v Brentford

Brentford boss Andy Scott looks set to be without the services of Andy Newton as his Bees look for the three points that would seal promotion.

Newton is a doubt after being withdrawn after just 36 minutes in the midweek 3-1 defeat at the hands of Dagenham – their first loss in six games.

For Darlington, boss Dave Penney, reportedly being lined up to replace Stuart McCall in the summer, will be without the services of striker Liam Hatch and Danny Carlton.

The duo returned to Peterborough and Carlisle respectively this week due to question-marks over the eligibility because the club is in administration.

Exeter v Morecambe

Exeter frontman Steve Basham is facing a race against time to prove his fitness for the visit of Morecambe.

Victory coupled with a Gillingham win against Bury would send The Grecians up, but Basham (ankle) is a doubt while Matt Taylor will continue at the back after coming through Saturday’s win at Lincoln unscathed.

Morecambe boss Sammy McIlory will be without the services of Wayne Curtis who has a hamstring injury but Fraser McLachlan could start.

Bournemouth v Grimsby

Grimsby boss Mike Newell is keeping his fingers cross Bradford City loanee Barry Conlon will be fit for the trip to the south coast with a win for either side guaranteeing safety.

Conlon has been struggling with a virus but should be fit while Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro will be back in contention after shaking off the same illness.

Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe has injury worries of his own with Steve Fletcher and Mark Molesley having missed training this week.

Fletcher (knee) and Molesley (ankle) are doubts with Alan Connell, Lee Bradbury and Sammy Igoe in contention to deputise.

Aldershot v Chester

Chester boss Mark Wright is sweating on the fitness of defensive duo Shaun Kelly and skipper Paul Linwood as they look to beat the drop.

A Grimsby win at Bournemouth would send The Blues down and Wright also has concerns over Ritchie Partridge and Kevin Ellison who are both suffering from hamstring injuries.

Shots frontman Danny Hylton faces a late fitness test while Anthony Charles and Dave Winfield are also serious doubts.

Striker Rob Elvins may be forced to play at the back while Marvin Morgan and Ben Harding are out for the rest of the season.

Accrington Stanley v Chesterfield

Accrington duo Peter Cavanagh and Robbie Williams are available for the visit of play-off hopefuls Chesterfield after being granted an extra fortnight to respond to the FA’s betting charges.

Liverpool loanee Craig Lindfield will make his final home bow for Stanley as they look to arrest a run of two defeats on the bounce.

Danny Hall is a serious doubt for the The Spirieites after aggravating a shin injury in the defeat at Gillingham last weekend.

Rob Page, who has not played since December, is also in line for a return to first-team action but long-term absentee Aaron Downes remains on the sidelines.

Bradford v Rotherham

Bradford skipper Graeme Lee should be fit enough for the Yorkshire derby despite having to be withdrawn from the defeat at Dagenham last weekend.

Rangers loanee Dean Furman may also be fit enough to play a part against Rotherham after returning to training this week.

For Rotherham, Ryan and Jason Taylor are pushing for starts after both getting on the scoresheet in the midweek win over Morecambe.

But the Taylor headache is boss Mark Robins’ only concern as he has no fresh injury concerns ahead of the clash.

Gillingham v Bury

Stephen Dawson returns from suspension for Bury who have to win at Gillingham to keep alive their hopes of an automatic promotion spot.

The Shakers are on a ten-match unbeaten run and will be at full strength for their trip to the Priestfield with defender Paul Scott back from a six-week injury lay-off.

Mark Stimson also has no injury concerns for The Gills, whose place in the play-offs was confirmed in midweek, although midfielder Adam Miller serves the second of a two-game ban.

Stuart Lewis will continue to deputise in midfield as Gillingham aim to go level on points with Bury in fourth spot.

Luton v Rochdale

Luton play play-off chasers Rochdale in their final game at Kenilworth Road before relegation to Non-League football.

Boss Mick Harford is already planning ahead for next season in the Blue Square Premier and may give young striker Aidan Quinn the chance to show what he can do after an impressive showing for the reserves in midweek.

Rochdale, who have won one out of their last six, need just a point to be assured of their place in the play-offs and will have skipper Gary Jones back after two months out with a groin injury.

Scott Wiseman (hernia), Kallum Higginbotham (ankle) and Craig Dawson (dead leg) are doubts but could return for Dale’s final league game at Gillingham next week.

Macclesfield v Barnet

Barnet boss Ian Hendon has several injury problems for his first game in permanent charge of The Bees away at Macclesfield.

Hendon was handed a two-year deal in midweek as reward for Barnet’s good form since taking charge as caretaker but he will be without leading scorer John O’Flynn and influential defender Ismail Yakubu.

He also has doubts over Albert Adomah and Nicky Deverdics while Macclesfield manager Keith Alexander has told his squad they are playing for their futures.

Alexander has on-loan defender Paul Morgan available again after missing the 3-0 defeat to parent club Bury with The Silkmen without a win at home since February.

Notts County v Dagenham & Redbridge

Notts County only have two fit forwards in their squad for the visit of play-off chasing Dagenham.

Delroy Facey and Ben Fairclough will lead the line for the Magpies who have lost their last four straight games while defender Stephen Hunt and midfielder Adam Nowland are both out.

Daggers boss John Still is unlikely to mix things up following their brilliant 3-1 win over league leaders Brentford in midweek.

A win for Dagenham would set up a nailbiting final home game against Shrewsbury who they are only separated by goal difference in League Two’s final play-off spot.

Shrewsbury v Lincoln City

Shrewsbury boss Paul Simpson will leave it to the last minute to give striker Omer Riza the chance to prove his fitness ahead of their must-win clash against Lincoln City.

The former Arsenal trainee picked up a hip injury against Rotherham but is desperate to make his home debut in front of a full house with the Shrews needing all three points to keep their play-off dream alive.

Lincoln meanwhile are set to experiment in their final two games with nothing to play for but they will definitely be without defenders Paul Green and Danny Hone.

Striker Moses Swaibu will continue up front in the absence of leading goalscorer Adrian Patulea while Nathan Adams could be in line for a recall.

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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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