After that rubbish served up against Burton on Friday night it can't happen too soon. In that un-memorable game we were totally out played by a Burton side far more interested in getting a result than we were and with too many below par performances from our lot we looked a sorry sight.
On Boxing Day we played Altrincham at Aggborough in an equally mind numbing game that ended all square at 1 - 1 and for the return fixture at Moss Lane tomorrow we are going to be without a key player. Johnny Mullins picked up his fifth booking of the season in that game and will now have to sit this one out along with Simon Russell and Laurie Wilson, both injured.
There were no visible injuries following the Burton game after Iyseden Christie, Lee Thompson and Michael Blackwood all shook off late fitness tests.
It's not known yet whether Taiwo Atieno is still a member of the Harriers set up or if he has been sent back to Walsall now that he has reached the end of his loan spell here. I'm sorry to say that since his opening day double against Woking the Walsall youngster has failed to impress and looked decidedly lazy and un-interested most of the time. This attitude will not impress Walsall's boss, Paul Merson, either and I shouldn't think he'll want him hanging around the Bescot for too long and will be shipping him out very soon. I'd rather he went somewhere else than come back here.
Alty will be hoping to go one better than last week in this game so will look favourites for all three points. That will have to be achieved without Gary Talbot because he is to have a scan on a foot injury.
Chris Adams also picked up his fifth booking of the season at Aggborough but he would have been allowed to play at Tamworth yesterday. He 'picked up an injury' before the start of that game and missed out playing. He will still miss the game against us though.
After gaining just one point out of a possible nine so far this Christmas we'll have our work cut out to get a further three to make the points haul look a bit more respectable. Surely they must have come to their senses by now and realised that they have played so badly recently that this ineptness must not be allowed to continue. Another draw for us I think.
(part of this preview was changed on 02-01-01 after a discrepancy was noticed - Admin)
Teams:
Harriers from:
Danby, Lewis, Hatswell, Burgess, Flynn, Ludlow, Jackson, O'Connor, Fleming, McHale, Graves, Heslop, Hurren, Penn, Christie, Hollis, Sheldon, Butler, Blackwood, Thompson.
Altrincham from:
Acton, Coburn, Aspinall, Band, Owen, Maddox, Adams, Munroe, Bushell, Chalmers, Hussin, McKenzie, Murphy, Norris, Peyton, Potts, Robinson, Rose, Scott, Hendley, Little, Lugsden, McFadden, Thornley.