The Fishy - Grimsby Town FC

Question of the Week

Who will go down?







 

Sheff Wed Preview

By: Richard Hubbert
Date: 20/12/2002

WITHOUT doubt this is the Mariners biggest game of the season - a pre-Christmas six pointer at home to rivals Sheffield Wednesday is a game Town simply cannot lose, but with injuries mounting can the Mariners pull off a positive result?

Home > 2002-2003 Season > Previews > Sheff Wed (h)


The Bottom Line

Town cannot afford to loose unless they want to get out of relegation the hard way...again!

Recent Form

 

TownSheff Wed
LPreston(a)0-3
LWalsall(a)1-3
LLeicester(h)1-2
LPalace(a)0-2
DPreston(h)3-3
LGillingham(h)0-2
DBrighton(h)1-1
LWimbledon(a)0-3
LPortsmouth(h)1-3
DGillingham(a)1-1

Players To Watch

 

TownSheff Wed

Georges Santos

Allan Johnston

Most Nationwide League fans will be familiar with "Big George" - mostly for the wrong reasons after the "incident" in the "Battle of Bramall Lane" last season which resulted in his release from Sheffield United. Now, he returns against his old club’s fiercest rivals in the Mariners midfield and what kind of game he has will have a direct impact on the match.

A tricky winger who is one of three loan signings made by new boss Chris Turner. Johnston joins from Middlesbrough on a months loan, with a good pedigree having played in France, for Rangers, Sunderland, where he bagged 20 goals in two seasons and Hearts. Now he is back in division one, giving Wednesday some much needed balance on the left hand side.

Top Scorers

 

TownSheff Wed

Kabba 6
Pouton 4
Campbell 4
Livingstone 3

Kuqi 5
Knight 3
Sibon 3
Donnely 2

Team News

 

TownSheff Wed

  • Town have huge injury problems. Stacy Coldicott, John McDermott and Paul Raven are definitely out and will not be involved.

  • Jason Gavin has been carrying an injury all week and missed Thursday’s training session as a precautionary measure but will be available. Dave "Digger" Soames is also a doubt to make the squad.

  • The bad news is that Tony Gallimore and Steve Livingstone pulled up in Thursday’s training with injuries and could be forced to sit out the game. This could mean a start for Johnny Rowan up front, who has been out cold on the bench since September.

  • The good news is that Simon Ford is fit and well, while Stuart Campbell will return in midfield.
  • Defensive duo Leigh Bromby and Derek Geary are set to return to the fray with Geary replacing David Burrows who was stretchered off in the Owl’s last game.

  • Llyod Owusu’s fitness will be a worry to Chris Turner after he picked up a knock in the Owl’s reserve game with Bolton in midweek, however, he should be fit to travel with the squad.
  • Probable Starting XI's

     

    TownSheff Wed
    Danny Coyne
    Simon Ford
    Jason Gavin
    Paul Groves
    Darren Barnard
    John Oster
    Stuart Campbell
    George Santos
    Alan Pouton
    Johnny Rowan
    Darren Mansaram
    Kevin Pressman
    Ryan Green
    Garry Monk
    Derek Geary
    Leigh Bromby
    Matthew Hamshaw
    Paul McClaren
    Trond-Egil-Soltvedt
    Allan Johnston
    Gerald Sibon
    Shefki Kuqi

    Subs

     

    TownSheff Wed
    Chris Bolder
    Terry Cooke
    Chris Thompson
    Iain Ward
    Sean Allaway (GK)
    Adam Proudlock
    Leon Knight
    Craig Armstrong
    Tony Crane
    Chris Stringer (GK)

    Last Time Out

    The last time the two sides met was in April this year when the two teams battled out a 0-0 draw - a result that edged the Mariners closer to safety. Danny Maddix was sent off in that game for two bookable offences in front of the biggest crowd of the season at Blundell Park.

    Town Team: Coyne, McDermott, Gallimore, Todd, Groves, Pouton, Coldicott, Butterfield, Campbell, Allen (Robinson), Boulding.
    Subs (not used): Falconer, Burnett, Ford, Croudson.

    Attendance: 9,235    Report

    Sheff Wed Head-to-Head (97th on The Opposition Ladder).

    Prediction

    Fishy prediction: 2-1 to Town. Reader's POMs

    Directions

    Click on the link for directions to Blundell Park (left).

    Admission Prices

    Click on the link for ticket prices to Blundell Park.




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