League One Weekend Fixture Preview

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League One Weekend Fixture Preview – 12th & 13th Sept 2008

 

Welcome to the first edition of 'League One Weekend Fixture Preview'.

Each week, I shall preview the remaining League One fixtures away from the action at Boundary Park.

 

Scunthorpe United vs. Carlisle United

Scunthorpe host Carlisle at Glanford Park in what could be a tight fixture with both teams on a run of straight league wins.

 

Rather than injury worries, Scunthorpe boss Nigel Adkins faces a selection headache whether or not to pick the same team that beat Brighton last week or include Izzy Iriekpen and Kevan Hurst who missed last weeks fixture through injury and family bereavement respectively. Andy Crosby, Joe Wilcox and Kenny Milne look set to miss.

 

For Carlisle, striker Michael Bridges is out with a hamstring injury. Scott Dobie, who has served a 3 match suspension from his sending off against Leyton Orient in August, may also return for Greg Abbott’s team.

Prediction: Scunthorpe 2-2 Carlisle

 

Leicester City vs. Millwall

From an international break last week, Leicester will aim to keep pace with Oldham and get back to their winning ways.

 

Leicester’s major injury worry is of Bulgarian international Alex Tunchev, but Nigel Pearson is full of confidence the defender will pull through. Despite Patrick Kisborno now back in training after a long injury layoff, he looks set to miss along with Stephen Clemence, Joe Mattock and Ashley Chambers.

 

For Millwall, Kenny Jackett looks set to recall Tresor Kandol, with Chris Hackett and Neil Harris available. Marc Laird and Danny Miller are doubtful for the Lions.

 

Prediction: Leicester 2-0 Millwall

 

Swindon Town vs. Leeds United

Swindon host a tough fixture against Leeds in what will be a testing match for The Robins.

 

Swindon look set to be without the services of three players. Jamie Vincent, Kasali Yinka Casal and Pat Kanyuka are all out. Swindon’s Barry Corr may make a return from the subs bench from a six month injury spell.

 

Gary McCallister admits he has plenty of healthy competition to choose for Leeds as they visit The County Ground. Slovakian defender Lubo Michalik will serve a one match suspension, meaning either Paul Huntington or Rui Marques look set to stake their claim for the vacant central defence slot.

Prediction: Swindon 1-2 Leeds

 

Yeovil Town vs. Brighton & Hove Albion

Yeovil will look to bounce back from losing their previous two league matches whilst Brighton will also look to reprieve last weeks hammering from Scunthorpe.

 

Yeovil have doubts over Nathan Smith and Darren Way, with Aidan Downes definitely missing the fixture.

 

For Brighton, influential midfielder Kevin McLeod and Jake Robinson look set to miss. Joe Anyinsah joined Brighton on a one month loan earlier this week and will be included. Defender Colin Hawkins may feature after a late fitness test.

 

Prediction: Yeovil 1-1 Brighton

 

Leyton Orient vs. Stockport County

Stockport return to action after a weeks rest whilst Leyton Orient hope to add another three points to the board.

 

Orient have a plethora of injury worries. Danny Granville, Tamika Mkandawire, Solomon Shields, Wayne Gray, Dean Morgan and Simon Dawkins are all doubts.

 

For Stockport, Owain fon Williams, Stephen Gleeson and Peter Thompson all return from representing their nations. Jim Gannon is also faced with injury worries over Johnny Mullins, Matty McNeil and Carl Baker, but Tommy Rowe and Dominic Blizzard look set to return.

 

Prediction: Orient 1-0 Stockport

 

Bristol Rovers vs. Walsall

Both teams will look to improve their respective defeats last week.

 

For Bristol Rovers, Ricky Lambert will look set to further improve his scoring record, having scored in every league game for Bristol. Jo Kuffour looks set to make his debut. Danny Coles and Ryan Green also return from injury.

 

Walsall will carry out late fitness tests over Stephen Hughes and Dwayne Mattis. Rhys Weston, Sofiene Zaaboub and Alex Nicholls return to first team action having successfully completed a mid week reserve game.

 

Prediction: Bristol 1-1 Walsall

 

Northampton Town vs. Peterborough United

Whilst Northampton return to league action this week, Peterborough will look to maintain their attacking record but improve their defensive counterpart from last week’s 5-4 victory over Bristol Rovers.

 

Northampton have no injury worries for this fixture with a fully fit squad at Stuart Gray’s disposal. Karl Hawley, who signed on a one month loan from Preston, may feature. Ryan Gilligan and Adebayo Akinfenwa also return to action.

 

For Peterborough, Darren Ferguson has given the nod to striker Scott Rendell to partner Craig Mackail-Smith up front in Aaron McLeans absence. Gabriel Zakuani, who arrived on loan for three months from Fulham, may also feature.

 

Prediction: Northampton 0-1 Peterborough

 

Huddersfield Town vs. Tranmere Rovers

Huddersfield will look set to continue last weekend’s winning ways whilst Tranmere will hope to bounce back from defeat.

 

Huddersfield have a near fully fit squad to choose from but are without strikers Danny Cadamarteri and Andy Booth. Andy Butler returns from injury and James Berrett returns from international duty.

 

Tranmere look set to recall Ian Goodison to their back four. Gareth Edds and Craig Curran are both doubtful.

Prediciton: Huddersfield 2-1 Tranmere

Hartlepool United vs. Cheltenham Town (Friday Evening)

Hartlepool and Cheltenham will both look to rectify their inconsistent starts to League One.

 

Hartlepool have fitness worries surrounding numerous players. Defender Michael Nelson is out after suffering a knock last week against Millwall, along with Willie Boland and Ritchie Jones. Despite Ben Clark returning to full training, he also looks doubtful for Friday evening’s fixture.

 

Bottom-placed Cheltenham on the other hand travel to Hartlepool with a near fully fit squad to choose from. Despite long-term injuries to John Finnigan and Damien Spencer, Shane Duff and Paul Connor return to the fold. Barry Hayles looks set to feature once again having agreed a one month loan extension from Leicester City.

 

Predicition: Hartlepool 2 – 0 Cheltenham

 

Crewe Alexandra vs. Colchester United

Crewe and Colchester will both look to improve their disappointing starts this season at Gresty Road.

 

Crewe are relatively injury free going into this fixture. Michael O’Connor returns after missing the Leeds fixture whilst away with his national side.

 

Stephen Gillespie looks set to return for Colchester along with Paul Reid, who is now fully fit after last week’s rest for The U’s. Chris Coyne and Medy Elito return from international duties, however, Elito is doubtful after picking up an injury on his travels.

 

Prediciton: Crewe 0-1 Colchester

 

Southend United vs. Hereford United

Southend and Hereford have made identical starts to League One, both losing three, drawing one and winning one.

 

Southend’s Steve Tilson will look to take advantage his midfield options available. Franck Moussa returns from suspension whilst Lee Sawyer returns from injury. Alan McCormack is still absent, but youngster Damian Scannell is hoping to feature after impressing in the reserves.

 

Hereford have numerous injury doubts over this fixture in Robbie Threlfall, Jack Macleod, Moses Ashikodi and Andy Williams. Despite taking their first points of the season in the last two games, they will look to improve this tally.

 

Prediction: Southend 2-1 Hereford

 

That’s it for this weekend’s preview. From an Oldham perspective, it would be nice if Scunthorpe can continue their league form of three straight wins into the Carlisle game and that Millwall pull off a surprise victory against Leicester. Feel free to leave any comments and feedback and thank you for reading!

[boboafc]

the result from last nights match was hartlepool 4 cheltenham 1

Hartlepool coasted to an impressive 4-1 win over Cheltenham on Friday night - a result that keeps the Robins rooted to the foot of League One.

 

United took the lead after 20 minutes with top scorer James Brown finishing well from close range after Town struggled to clear Jamie McCunnie's left-wing free-kick.

 

It was 2-0 to Pools three minutes after the break as Andy Gallinagh diverted Antony Sweeney's right-wing cross into his own net as it skidded in front of him at the far post.

 

The third came on 62 minutes when Robins keeper Shane Higgs pushed out another Sweeney cross, and Andy Monkhouse finished well from the left.

 

And the fourth followed three minutes from time when substitute Michael Mackay got on the end of a long ball down the right by McCunnie and finished well from a tight angle.

 

Lloyd Owusu headed in powerfully from an 89th-minute corner to give Town their consolation