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Following on from last weeks excellent home win against Cheltenham it's now time to take that good form away from home and in particular to Notts County tomorrow.
We've now shown that we can play for ninety minutes, by doing so against Rochdale and Cheltenham, and now we have got to add scoring goals to that habit. Although it was good to score a winning goal last week, from the head of Johnny Mullins, it would be even better if we can learn to kill teams off and not have to bite our nails watching the Reds hanging onto a slender lead for the remainder of a game.
We grabbed three goals in a midweek reserve game against Stafford Rangers in which we saw the return, or first appearance, of Iyseden Christie and Reuben Hazell. Both came through this test ok with Hazell getting the applause for a solid showing that showed that he's not too far from making his debut at the wrong end of the season. Christie didn't impress as much, looking at times very self conscious of his foot injury and not wanting to get another knock back by getting injured again.
Mark Rawle also played in this game until he got a bang on the knee and had to go off for treatment. It's touch and go whether he'll be available for selection against County but it's a game he would be ideal in. A bit of powerful height would not go amiss against a County side that are on a bit of a good run at the moment and look likely to escape the attractions of the Conference for another year.
Lee Jenkins is also a doubt for us after he was subbed at half time last week with a knee injury. There should be no problem replacing him though because we seem to have ample full backs in Billy Jones, Simon Weaver, Steve Burton and Abdou Sall to choose from.
Notts County will have quite a few players missing for our first ever visit to Meadow Lane and will be hoping that they are not too much under strength for the game.
Definitely out for them will be their two main frontmen, Gavin Gordon (broken jaw) and Julien Baudet (calf injury). They have bought in a former player of theirs, Mark Stallard, on loan from Barnsley as cover and he came up with the winner against Swansea City last week and, paired with Stefan Oakes, looks to be a dangerous proposition for our lads.
Also out for them is the player manager Ian Richardson and Mike Whitlow, both with knee injuries and Steve Scoffham who has just started his comeback after being out for almost a year after breaking his leg. Mike Edwards has a cruciate ligament injury and quite a few of the squad have been down with flu this week.
So can we continue with our good form and close that gap between us and Rushden? I think it's going to be a tough game but we should be strong enough for the point and as long as both Rushden and Cambridge lose then it's one point nearer safety.
Teams
Harriers from:
Danby, Lewis, Burton, Mullins, Jones, Sall, Weaver, Jackson, Bennett, Hatswell, Beardsley, McGrath, Jenkins, Keates, Cozic, Gleeson, Sturrock, Birch, Rawle, Foster, Russell.
Notts County from:
Deeney, Elliot, Pipe, Oakes, Gill, Hurst, Scully, Palmer, Rawden, Bolland, Williams, Scoffham, Ullathorne, Harrad, Friars, Wilson, McFaul, Stallard, Petterson.
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