League Two preview
Friday 21 September 2007 14:34, UK
Darlington's unbeaten start to the season will be put to the test as the leaders travel to MK Dons.
Darlington's unbeaten start to the season under Dave Penney will be put to the test as the League Two leaders travel to MK Dons. The Quakers have won four and drawn two of their six matches so far but Paul Ince's side, who have won three of their last four, can move to within a point of their opponents with a victory. In-form Chesterfield, who are only being kept off the top spot on goal difference, are chasing their fifth successive victory when Barnet arrive at Saltergate. Grimsby - the only team in League Two yet to record a victory - tackle local rivals Lincoln at Sincil Bank. Accrington Stanley v Mansfield (Home 6/5, Draw 11/5, Away 15/8) Accrington boss John Coleman is set to hand midfielder Paul Carden his first league start of the season after his calf injury, while Jay Harris and Leighton McGivern are suspended. Mansfield are without suspended defender Jake Buxton and with Alex John-Baptiste (back) also doubtful youngster Chris Woods could be called upon. Chester v Brentford (Home 10/11, Draw 9/4, Away 5/2) Chester defender Paul Linwood is available again after suspension but Phil Bolland could keep his place in the side after impressing in the 2-0 win over Bury. Brentford boss Terry Butcher will welcome back Sammy Moore after suspension but will have to give captain John Mackie (hamstring) a late fitness. Chesterfield v Barnet (Home 4/7, Draw 12/5, Away 4/1) Chesterfield have doubts over the fitness of defenders Kevin Gray and Jamie Lowry (blisters), midfielder Peter Leven (arm) and Gregor Robertson (dead leg). Barnet midfielder Ashley Carew missed out last weekend but proved a point by grabbing a hat-trick against an Under 18 side in midweek. Dagenham v Bury (Home evens, Draw 9/4, Away 9/4) Dagenham's Jamie Taylor is hoping to have recovered from the foot injury he sustained in training but defender Magnus Okuonghae is out after injuring his groin in the warm-up before the defeat to Notts County. Bury midfielder Ben Leonard is available after serving a suspension handed to him by the Sheffield Sunday League but goalkeeper Aaron Grundy (ankle) remains on the sidelines. Hereford v Bradford (Home 5/4, Draw 9/4, Away 7/4) Hereford defender Trent McClenahan is available again after international duty with Australia's Under 23 side. Trevor Benjamin and Steve Guinan have both overcome ankle injuries and are expected to start up front. Bradford will be boosted by the return of Paul Heckingbottom who has recovered from a knee injury but winger Alex Rhodes will not be rushed back into action. Lincoln v Grimsby (12pm) (Home 5/6, Draw 9/4, Away 11/4) Lincoln boss John Schofield again has a fully-fit squad at his disposal with right-back Paul Green available again after he came through the midweek reserve clash. Grimsby will be missing teenagers Ryan Bennett (Achilles) and Andy Taylor (ankle) with Dave Mulligan and James Hunt expected to come into the starting XI. MK Dons v Darlington (Home 6/5, Draw 11/5, Away 15/8) MK Dons boss Paul Ince is set to name an unchanged side but Kevin Gallen (groin) has resumed training and could make the squad. Darlington right-back Neil Austin (ankle) is a slight doubt while defenders Patrick Collins and Scott Wiseman played for the reserves in midweek and could be added to the squad. Peterborough v Morecambe (Home 4/7, Draw 12/5, Away 9/2) Peterborough will be without defender Shane Blackett after he injured his knee in training but Danny Blanchett is available again following a summer hernia operation and Chris Westwood has overcome a hamstring strain. Morecambe are missing Wayne Curtis who is facing a fortnight out with a chest problem while Dave Artell will be given a late fitness test. Rochdale v Macclesfield (Home 10/11, Draw 9/4, Away 5/2) Rochdale's Gary Brown (knee), Nathan Stanton (knee), Nathan D'Laryea (knee) and Simon Ramsden (calf) are all still out, with Stanton having suffered a setback. Macclesfield boss Ian Brightwell made changes for the Johnstone's Paint Trophy victory over Wrexham and must now decide whether to tinker with a winning side. Rotherham v Notts County (Home 5/6, Draw 9/4, Away 11/4) Rotherham strikers Derek Holmes (groin and thigh) and Chris O'Grady (back) will undergo late fitness tests with Marc Newsham and Ryan Taylor competing to partner Bruce Dyer. Notts County's Neil MacKenzie scored 10 minutes after coming off the bench against Dagenham and will be hoping for a place in the starting XI. Stockport v Wrexham (Home 8/11, Draw 9/4, Away 10/3) Stockport striker Anthony Pilkington collided with on-loan Leicester goalkeeper Conrad Logan in training and could be out for up to five weeks after damaging ankle ligaments. Chris Adamson (finger) is out for a month and midfielder Dominic Blizzard (hamstring) is a doubt. Wrexham are without strikers Chris Llewellyn and Michael Proctor through suspension while defenders Mike Williams (back) and Ryan Valentine (groin) and forward Eifion Williams (thigh) are also out. But midfielders Mark Jones and Danny Williams are both fit to return. Wycombe v Shrewsbury (Home 11/10, Draw 9/4, Away 2/1) Wycombe midfielder Matt Bloomfield (thigh) faces a late fitness check so Sergio Torres will be on stand-by, with Paul Lambert set to name an otherwise unchanged line-up. Shrewsbury's Colin Murdock has recovered from the sickness bug which forced him off 28 minutes into the win over Accrington while Neil Ashton is available again after recovering from an elbow injury.