Stevenage vs Morecambe. Sky Bet League Two.
Lamex StadiumAttendance2,030.
Friday 17 August 2018 12:37, UK
Stevenage boss Dino Maamria is unlikely to have striker Danny Newton available for their Sky Bet League Two clash with Morecambe.
Newton suffered a suspected broken rib in the first half of last week's 3-1 win at Crawley and did not feature in the 3-1 defeat at Norwich in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday. Alex Reid replaced the 27-year-old and could maintain his place in attack alongside Alex Revell and Kurtis Guthrie.
However, fellow forward Ben Kennedy could step in after missing the last two matches following the birth of his child last Friday.
Morecambe will hope to put their shooting boots on as they aim to score their first league goal since April 14 - a run of six League Two matches. Jim Bentley's side grabbed their first goal of the campaign in the 3-1 first-round Carabao Cup defeat at Preston through Liam Mandeville, and the Doncaster loan signing could lead the line once again at the Lamex Stadium.
AJ Leitch-Smith is pushing for his first start for the Shrimps after two substitute appearances, while fellow striker Jason Oswell could retain his place following his first start for the club at Deepdale. Defender Sam Lavelle is sidelined with a leg injury so Steve Old and Newcastle loan player Josef Yarney remain Morecambe's only fit centre-backs.
Morecambe have only won one of their 10 meetings with Stevenage in the Football League (D4 L5), a 1-0 victory in April 2017.
Stevenage have only failed to score once when at home against Morecambe (1-0, April 2017).
Morecambe have failed to win any of their previous 12 League Two games (D7 L5) including defeats in their opening two games of this season, the first time the Shrimps have kicked off their Football League campaign with two consecutive defeats.
Morecambe manager Jim Bentley has won just one of his eight matches against Stevenage (D3 L4), a 1-0 victory in April 2017.
Kevin Ellison has scored three goals in seven appearances for Morecambe against Stevenage, including the first goal in the most recent meeting between the two sides (1-1, January 2018).
