LEAGUE TWO PREVIEW
New Shrewsbury boss Gary Peters face a tough start to his Gay Meadow career.
New Shrewsbury manager Gary Peters faces the most difficult start possible to his career at Gay Meadow, where League Two leaders Swansea are the visitors. Peters has to pick his side up after their humiliating FA Cup exit at Histon.Bristol Rovers are looking to maintain their unbeaten home record when second place Scunthorpe visit The Memorial Stadium while there is a top-of-the-table clash at Yeovil, who meet Southend.
Leyton Orient entertain managerless Wycombe while bottom club Kidderminster travel to fellow strugglers Grimsby.
All the weekend team news is here...
Friday
Northampton (13) v Chester (15)
Striker Marc Richards could be back in the Northampton squad. The 22-year-old has recovered from the knee injury that has kept him out of the side since September. Boss Colin Calderwood may decide to stick with the same starting XI that knocked Barnsley out of the FA Cup last week. Chester boss Ian Rush will have striker Michael Branch sidelined for the trip with an ankle problem. Rush admits he is unlikely to bring any new faces into his squad before the clash.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Northampton W W W L L; Chester W W W L D
Top scorers: Scott McGleish (Northampton) 9; Michael Branch (Chester) 5
Referee: M Thorpe (Suffolk)
| Northampton 5/6 Draw 9/4 Chester 11/4 Click here for full odds with Sky Bet |
Saturday
Boston Utd (7) v Mansfield (12)
Boston will again be without Courtney Pitt and Chris Holland when Mansfield visit. However, new signing Daryl Clare will go straight into the squad to face the Stags, although he may be forced to sit on the bench. Mansfield's ranks have been boosted by the arrival of Bolton defender Jason Talbot. Talbot has signed on a month's loan as replacement for fellow loanee Craig Woodman, following his return to Bristol City.
Last season: Boston Utd 1 Mansfield 2; Mansfield 2 Boston Utd 1
Last five league matches: Boston Utd W D L D W; Mansfield W L D D L
Top scorers: Andy Kirk (Boston Utd) 8; Colin Larkin (Mansfield) 8
Referee: M Warren (W Midlands)
| Boston 10/11 Draw 9/4 Mansfield 5/2 Click here for full odds with Sky Bet |
Bristol Rovers (8) v Scunthorpe (2)
Bristol Rovers boss Ian Atkins is likely to stick with the same team that drew with Carlisle in the FA Cup for the visit of high-flying Scunthorpe. Midfielder Ali Gibb had been battling to make the clash but will miss out with a calf injury. Scunthorpe boss Brian Laws is expected to name an unchanged starting line-up for the trip. Defender Nathan Stanton remains sidelined as he sits out the last of a three-game ban.
Last season: Bristol Rovers 1 Scunthorpe 0; Scunthorpe 1 Bristol Rovers 2
Last five league matches: Bristol Rovers D D W D L; Scunthorpe L W W D W
Top scorers: Junior Agogo (Bristol Rovers) 11; Paul Hayes (Scunthorpe) 11
Referee: J Ross (Essex)
| Bristol Rovers 11/10 Draw 9/4 Scunthorpe 2/1 Click here for full odds with Sky Bet |
Bury (14) v Notts County (20)
Bury manager Graham Barrow will be without defender Dave Challinor for the clash. The Shakers skipper picked up a knee injury in the FA Cup win over Vauxhall Motors and is expected to be sidelined for the next three weeks. Notts County player-manager Ian Richardson is poised for a return to action. Richardson has been out with a knee injury since late September but returned to action in a midweek training game at Crewe.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Bury W D D D L; Notts County L D W L W
Top scorers: David Nugent (Bury) 9; Glynn Hurst (Notts County) 10
Referee: M Pike (Cumbria)
| Bury 11/10 Draw 9/4 Notts County 2/1 Click here for full odds with Sky Bet |
Cambridge Utd (23) v Rushden & Diamonds (16)
Cambridge midfielder Luke Guttridge is back in contention for the visit of Rushden after recovering from a serious viral infection. The problem has kept him out since the end of August. Manager Ernie Tippett is hoping to welcome David Bell back into his Rushden squad for the trip. Midfielder Bell has returned to training after recovering from the groin injury that kept him out of last week's FA Cup win over Bradford.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Cambridge Utd L D L L L; Rushden & D'monds L D D W L
Top scorers: Jermaine Easter (Cambridge Utd) 5; Craig Dove (Rushden & D'monds) 4
Referee: P Danson (Leicestershire)
| Cambridge 11/8 Draw 11/5 Rushden 13/8 Click here for full odds with Sky Bet |
Darlington (9) v Lincoln City (10)
Darlington boss David Hodgson is hoping to welcome back influential midfielder Stephen Thomas. Thomas has had a series of injections in his groin to reduce inflammation. Hodgson has been boosted by the news that defender Curtis Fleming will return to training next week. Lincoln manager Keith Alexander has a number of injury worries to contend with. Strikers Francis Green and Martin Carruthers are out while Ciaran Toner is doubtful with a groin problem.
Last season: Lincoln City 1 Darlington 1; Darlington 0 Lincoln City 0
Last five league matches: Darlington L D W W L; Lincoln City W D L W W
Top scorers: Alun Armstrong (Darlington) 6; Simon Yeo (Lincoln City) 7
Referee: A Kaye (W Yorkshire)
| Darlington Evens Draw 9/4 Lincoln 9/4 Click here for full odds with Sky Bet |
Grimsby (19) v Kidderminster (24)
Grimsby manager Russell Slade has an array of worries to contend with ahead of the game. Midfielder Terry Fleming is suspended, as is striker Michael Reddy, while there is an injury doubt over Andy Parkinson (knee). On-loan winger Simon Brown could make a return to the Kidderminster side. The West Brom wideman has been sidelined since suffering a fractured tibia four weeks ago but has now returned to Aggborough and trained without reaction.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Grimsby D D L D L; Kidderminster W L L L L
Top scorers: Thomas Pinault (Grimsby) 4; Ian Foster (Kidderminster) 4
Referee: A Leake (Lancashire)
| Grimsby 4/6 Draw 12/5 Kidderminster 7/2 Click here for full odds with Sky Bet |
Leyton Orient (4) v Wycombe (17)
Leyton Orient manager Martin Ling has no new injury or suspension worries for the home clash with Wycombe. However, he will be able to include on-loan Tottenham striker Lee Barnard. Wycombe caretaker player-manager Keith Ryan has a number of injury problems to contend with. Forward Craig Faulconbridge will be missing with a knee problem, while the midfield pair of Mark Philo (broken ankle) and Joe Burnell (twisted knee) are short of fitness.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Leyton Orient W L W D D; Wycombe L D D L L
Top scorers: Lee Steele (Leyton Orient) 12; Nathan Tyson & Adam Birchall (Wycombe) 5
Referee: K Friend (Leicestershire)
| Leyton Orient 4/5 Draw 11/5 Wycombe 3/1 Click here for full odds with Sky Bet |
Macclesfield (6) v Cheltenham (11)
Macclesfield manager Brian Horton will be without striker Jon Parkin for the visit of Cheltenham. The 10-goal forward serves a one-match suspension after collecting five yellow cards this season. Cheltenham boss John Ward still has two key players out injured for the trip. Influential defender Michael Taylor (ankle) and forward Kayode Odejayi (knee) both remain on the injured list. In a boost for Ward, Grant McCann returns to the squad after serving a suspension.
Last season: Macclesfield 1 Cheltenham 2; Cheltenham 3 Macclesfield 2
Last five league matches: Macclesfield W D W L W; Cheltenham W W W L W
Top scorers: Jonathan Parkin (Macclesfield) 10; Damian Spencer (Cheltenham) 4
Referee: R Olivier (W Midlands)
| Macclesfield 10/11 Draw 9/4 Cheltenham 5/2 Click here for full odds with Sky Bet |
Oxford Utd (21) v Rochdale (18)
Oxford caretaker manager Darren Patterson has no injury worries ahead of his first game in charge against Rochdale. Defender Jon Ashton returns from suspension and could displace Dave Woozley at the heart of the Us defence. Central defender Daryl Burgess is a major doubt for Rochdale. Burgess, who missed out last week in the FA Cup win against the same opponents through suspension, has been struggling with a rib injury.
Last season: Oxford Utd 2 Rochdale 0; Rochdale 1 Oxford Utd 2
Last five league matches: Oxford Utd L L L W L; Rochdale L D L W W
Top scorers: Tommy Mooney (Oxford Utd) 5; Grant Holt (Rochdale) 12
Referee: L Probert (Gloucestershire)
| Oxford Evens Draw 9/4 Rochdale 9/4 Click here for full odds with Sky Bet |
Shrewsbury (22) v Swansea (1)
Shrewsbury host table-topping Swansea with new boss Gary Peters unable to select several first-team players. Sam Aiston damaged knee ligaments in training and is set to miss out, while Jamie Tolley and John Grant are unlikely to recover from their respective back and ankle problems. Swansea boss Kenny Jackett is hoping Andy Robinson can maintain his fitness for the clash. Robinson made a belated return from a persistent back problem in the 3-1 FA Cup first round win over Cheltenham.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Shrewsbury L D D W L; Swansea L W D W W
Top scorers: Luke Rodgers (Shrewsbury) 4; Lee Trundle (Swansea) 8
Referee: E Evans (Lancashire)
| Shrewsbury 15/8 Draw 12/5 Swansea 11/10 Click here for full odds with Sky Bet |
Yeovil (3) v Southend (5)
Yeovil are boosted by the return to fitness of 12-goal top-scorer Phil Jevons ahead of their home game against Southend. Jevons missed the 3-3 FA Cup draw at Darlington with a hamstring injury but has been back in training this week. Midfielder Jay Smith remains sidelined for Southend. Smith, who had only just returned from a nine-month lay off, will miss the rest of the season after rupturing his Achilles tendon in training.
Last season: Southend 0 Yeovil 2; Yeovil 4 Southend 0
Last five league matches: Yeovil L D L W W; Southend W L D W W
Top scorers: Phil Jevons (Yeovil) 12; Fredy Eastwood (Southend) 7
Referee: S Tomlin (E Sussex)
| Yeovil 4/5 Draw 11/5 Southend 3/1 Click here for full odds with Sky Bet |
