English League One 29th Oct

[Swooperman]

....from soccernet

Steve Hislop and Danny Jackman are the latest additions to Gillingham's casualty list ahead of the clash with Blackpool.

Striker Hislop has sustained a groin injury and defender Jackman has turned his ankle.

Forwards Darren Byfield (knee) and Paul Shields (ankle) are still missing along with midfielders Danny Spiller and Alan Pouton (both knee).

Defender Brent Sancho is out with hamstring trouble, goalkeeper Jason Brown has a fractured thumb and Leon Johnson is still suspended.

Blackpool striker John Murphy is set to earn a recall after not starting a first-team game for nine weeks due to a back injury.

He is likely to be partnered at Priestfield by Keigan Parker, who is also ready to return after two weeks out with a head injury.

Parker suffered concussion in an incident away from the club and was kept out of the last two matches against Wrexham and Brentford as a precaution.

But he has now been passed fit and will come in for the suspended Tommy Wright, who is serving a one-match ban for his red card last weekend.

Murphy's return could see Matt Blinkhorn return to the bench, while Danny Coid misses out with a hamstring injury.

......Parker has 4 goals in 13 games (+2) & 12 in 33 last year
Murphy has 2 in 6 (+4) & has been sub in the last 2 games. Hes scored 88 in 235 games for Blackpool but has scored less & less each year.
Wright has 3 goals this season

So 1 striker out & 2 in, but without having seen them its difficult this, & I agree unders looks a decnt bet, as does a draw....personally I cant see a reason for backing either....but your biased so I'll let you off

[rcgills]

No, you're quite right, no reason to back Gills other than blind faith, and that's got me nowhere in the past

[Swooperman]

Forest v Bradford

Chris & me already touched on this briefly tbh, but this is from soccernet:

Paul Gerrard is expected to return to goalkeeping duties when Nottingham Forest play host to Bradford.

Gerrard had been displaced as the Reds' first choice following Russell Hoult's arrival on loan from Premiership West Brom last month, but Hoult has now been recalled by the Baggies.

Striker Gareth Taylor will be missing as he starts a three-game suspension following his sending off in last weekend's 3-0 defeat at Yeovil.

Midfielder Kris Commons is also ruled out by an ankle injury, while a hip problem means Scott Dobie is absent. John Curtis is struggling to overcome a calf complaint.

Bradford boss Colin Todd is hoping Bobby Petta can overcome a calf injury in time for the trip.

The Dutch winger was withdrawn before half-time in the win over Gillingham last time out, but is expected to be fit to start.

Should Petta not make it Lewis Emanuel, who replaced him last week, will step in.

Todd has no other new injury or suspension problems as City chase a third straight win.

Andy Cooke is pressing for a start following his late winner last week, leaving Todd to decide whether to stick with Dean Windass and Steve Claridge in attack.

......well it does look decent for Bradfords chances IMO.
Hoult is a big loss. He played 8 league games in which Forest had a record of 4-2-2-10-7. All 4 wins came from 5 games @ home but when you realise the record before he came was 2-0-4-9-12 then you can see the impact he made.
Forest are missing other key players as well, particularly Commons, & Taylor had 2 goals in his last 3 games before being sent off, but he cant be that good as Megsons bid for Tyson I think (thats Nathan before some smart arse starts ) & I think the 11/4 @ Laddies looks decent

[Swooperman]

Donny v Tranmere

....from soccernet:

Doncaster goal-hero Paul Heffernan is pushing for a starting berth for the visit of Tranmere.

The #125,000 summer signing from Bristol City came off the bench to score the two goals which gave Rovers a 2-0 Carling Cup victory against Gillingham in midweek.

The Irish striker could now be handed a starting spot by boss Dave Penney while Steve Roberts is hoping to shake off a shin injury in time to play.

Sean Thornton is edging closer to a first-team start following an ankle injury but Tim Ryan (Achilles), Jermaine McSporran (knee) and Andy Warrington (broken leg) remain sidelined.

Tranmere manager Brian Little is likely to stick with the side that drew 0-0 with Colchester last week.

Defender Alex Bruce, who had been left out of Little's squad for the last two matches, has returned to Birmingham.

Danny Harrison (nose operation) is likely to return at Bradford next week but fellow midfielder Jason McAteer (knee) remains on the sidelines.

....doesnt look good for Tranny IMO & that 10/11 Stan James sure looks sweet
Donny are on a decent home run of 4 wins & a draw after a ropey start, 8-3 in goals in that spell. They got turned by Walsall @ Bescot last week but the home boys reckoned they were the best side they'd seen @ Bescot this season....praise indeed

Tranmeres overall away form is nothing short of shocking tbh, 1-1-6-3-9, & the recent run is 0-0-4-1-6. They havent scored anywhere in 5 games, with 4 lost & 1 drawn, conceding 5 in that time. Not won in 9, 5-12 in goals during those games.

Looks as close to a 'sure thing' as I can find this weekend, if it were not for the 0-0 @ home to Colchester last week, straight after asst.manager Richard Hill was sacked

Donny @ 10/11 Stan James

[Swooperman]

Colchester v Yeovil

from soccernet:

Influential midfielder Karl Duguid is pushing for a start as Colchester boss Phil Parkinson prepares his side to face Yeovil.

Duguid made his first appearance in two months from the bench against Tranmere last week, and also got in a midweek run-out for the reserves following a knee injury.

New-boy Jamie Cureton could also start if Parkinson switches back to 4-4-2 for the home clash.

Richard Garcia is available having flown back from Australia following a family bereavement, and George Elokobi is back in training after recovering from mumps.

Marino Keith, Stephen Hunt (both ankle) and Dean Howell (stomach) are still missing.

Yeovil boss Steve Thompson has several injury worries to contend with.

Midfielder Paul Terry is battling to be fit after he suffered badly bruised ribs in last weekend's 3-0 victory over Nottingham Forest.

There is also a major doubt over on-loan central defender Liam Fontaine (ankle), while striker David Poole suffered a foot injury in the reserves' 4-3 defeat to Plymouth on Wednesday.

However, Terry Skiverton should return after being forced off early against Forest through illness.

Definitely missing are midfielder Darren Way (fractured cheekbone) and defender Efe Sodje (knee), while Uruguayan defender Alejandro Melono has had his contract terminated.

......well from what I can see only Paul Terry actually played v Forest last week, the others didnt, & that ended up in a 3-0 win.
Yeovils away record is not great 2-2-4-9-15, & 1-2-1-6-8 recently but that included a 4-1 thumping by Southend in their good run.
Colchester @ home arent great either with 2-2-3-7-8 & recently 1-1-2-5-6 so they dont score a great deal at all. Theyve only won 1 in the last 6 & that was away to Blackpool, but theyve lost their last 2 at home to Chesterfield & Bournemouth.

All on confidence this to me & I reckon Yeovil will improve their away column here

[trickrick]

Originally Posted by kompressaur

Mk Dons v Rotherham has a TrickRick bet written all over it I can just see him going mental about it on saturday. 2-1 the MK Dons.

Tis true Komp - my sexual fetish for the Dons will continue this Saturday... The DOns continue to underachieve and cannot hang on to a lead to save their lives. However this weekend may be different. Statistics alone look faily decent.. Dons lost only 1 of their last home games and Rotherham haven't won any of their last 5 away matches, losing 3 of them.. MK Dons are quite few points above them in the 8-match form table, so the 11/8 on offer for them looks verrrrrry nice....

MK Dons - 6 pt single @ 11/8 (Skybet)

[Swooperman]

MK Dons v Rotherham

from soccernet:

MK Dons hope to welcome back Wade Small and Trent McClenahan for the home game with Rotherham.

Winger Small (ankle) and full-back McClenahan (hamstring) resumed full training on Thursday morning and will undergo late checks ahead of the game.

Forward Aaron Wilbraham begins a three-match suspension after he was sent off within minutes of entering the fray as a substitute against Hartlepool last week.

Skipper Ben Chorley (thigh) is edging closer to fitness - but is still not ready.

Rotherham are boosted by the return of Paul McLaren.

The Millers midfielder should return to the starting line-up after completing a three-match suspension.

Millmoor boss Mick Harford can boast a near full-strength squad, with only defender Scott Minto (Achilles) and Lee Williamson (nose) missing.

...I've been harping about this one all week so I thought I'd have a look see.
Rotherham are in trouble, winless in 9 in all competitions, including 3 draws & the goals stand at 7-15 in that run. Harford is making changes after the midweek home defeat by Barnsley & McLaren definetly plays, & Conlon returns up front with Deon Burton. Gregor Robertson does miss out after getting injured during training.
MK are hard to beat here & are 2-5-1-8-7 but have only lost 1 in their last 6 games.
H2H's are 3-3 with no draws, goals 8-8

I'm going MK Dons with a draw cover I think

[Swooperman]

Swansea v Chesterfield

from soccernet:

Swansea looks set to be at full-strength squad for the first time this season when Chesterfield visit the Liberty Stadium.

Andy Robinson is certain to come back into contention after missing last weekend's 2-2 draw at Rotherham with a dead leg.

Jackett is also hopeful that Garry Monk (calf), the only other player not available for the Millmoor trip, will declare himself fit to face the Spireites.

The return of Robinson and Monk would leave Jackett with a host of selection headaches as his side aim for a first win in four league matches.

Chesterfield manager Roy McFarland hopes to name an unchanged line-up after seeing his side climb up to fifth in League One following Wednesday's 3-0 win over Bristol City.

The Spireites have no fresh injury or suspension worries to contend with as they look to continue the recent run of good form which has seen them hit seven goals in the last two games.

And assistant boss Lee Richardson insists the best way to do that is to enjoy the occasion.

``It's a big stadium and there will be a big crowd. It'll be a big experience for the players, but we go there with the pressure off us and we'll enjoy it,'' Richardson told PA Sport.

Striker Caleb Folan (hamstring) and defender Aaron Downes (broken ankle) are set to miss out once again.

.....well, its the 2 form teams sure enough. Swansea impressive home record is 4-2-1-16-7 & theyve lost only once in 12, but they havent won in the last 3. Chesterfield equally good away record is 4-1-3-12-12 but theyve only lost 1 in 8 & indeed their form record stands @ 6-1-1-18-7

Theres generally goals as last season both games ended in 3-2 home wins, & the season before they were both 2-0 home wins. There hasnt been an away win between these teams since 1972 when Chesterfield won 3-1 @ Swansea.

Bearing in mind theyve changed grounds but Swanseas home record is 9-5-4-25-16 v Chesterfield, but theyre absolutely awful away as its 14-2-2 or something, but thats for another day.

The Swans mboards are convinced that Chesterfield will just come for the draw but theyre in form & full of confidence & if anybody can then they can at the moment. I might have a small dabble on the away with cover I think.

[Kop66]

I've already taken 100/30 about Chesterfield Swoop, its a great price for a team thats in form.

GL

[Swooperman]

Hows the head Kop ??

[kompressaur]

Doncaster v Tranmere - Tranmere, 1pt 100-30 (Ladbrokes)

BACKING a team who have not scored in their last five league matches may not be every punter’s idea of value but every side has their price and Tranmere are too big at 100-30 at Doncaster.
Tranny’s away record reads played eight, won one, drew one, lost six, with three scored and nine conceded. But those stats may be misleading.
Rovers have visited the current top four in League One – Southend, Huddersfield, Swansea and Brentford, and pre-season jollies Nottingham Forest and second-favourites Bristol City.
Tranmere are under-achieving, but then so too are Doncaster, who must have the worst goals scored to chances created ratio in the whole of English football.

racing post

[Kop66]

Originally Posted by Swooperman

Hows the head Kop ??

Thumping Swoop' bloody thumping

[rcgills]

Gills v Blackpool line ups:

Gills:
Bullock - Williams, Cox, Hope, Wallis - Hessenthaler, Smith, Crofts, Flynn - Harris, Jarvis
Subs - Crichton, Corneille, Rose, Saunders, Collin

Two right-backs (Corneille and Rose) on the bench

Blackpool (sorry, this list may not be in positional order, the Gills team list isn't in any particular order on the Gills site, but I know enough about the Gills to put it into order, can't say the same about Blackpool):

Pogliacomi, McGregor, Southern, Clark, Parker, Doolan, Murphy, Wiles, Edwards, Warrender, Armstrong

Subs - Jones, Vernon, Blinkhorn, Grayson, Morris

Have gone for under 2.25 goals (can't see Gills scoring or conceding more than one). No idea who's going to win, although no prizes for guessing what I'm hoping

[rcgills]

Keigan Parker returns for Blackpool after two weeks out, scores the opener, and has now just been sent off for punching Tom Williams in the face. Lively return to the team

[Swooperman]

Yeah, & the reason he was originally out was concussion from a 'no-footballing injury'