Diamonds played on Good Friday and had a disappointing game when they could only manage a draw at home to Crawley Town. Reports say that they looked jaded and below par so we should be expecting them to be a bit more up for this game considering that we are also arch rivals of some years standing.
Our guests will be without Michael Corcoran (hamstring) and Simon Downer (tendonitis in the knee) but their manager, Justin Edinburgh, is expected to partake in a little squad rotation and bring some fresh legs in.
Where Rushden were dropping two points on Friday we were dropping all three yesterday afternoon at Altrincham in a game that came as a big let down after that marvelous win against Cambridge a few days earlier. We were expecting to continue with that attacking performance but, although we did score twice, we let three in because of a defensive mare.
We can only hope that Lee Baker will be back at left back tomorrow because it's looking obvious that Tom Sharpe, fine centre half that he is, is no full back. We'll also have to have a bit of a change around on the right hand side of the pitch too because Duane Courtney limped off in yesterdays game and it's looking very doubtful if he'll play tomorrow. We could see Marcus Bignot turning out against one of his previous clubs in place of Duane.
We might also see the return of John Finnigan too now that he's starting to come back from his calf injury but I wouldn't count on it.
There should be a decent crowd at Aggborough tomorrow seeing as it's a Bank Holiday and Rushden isn't too far to come. Add in the fairweather fans that want to see their team in the play-offs then all we need is a nice sunny afternoon to see the Harriers storm to victory.
Let it be.
Teams:
Harriers from:
Singh, Atkins, Baker, Riley, Bignot, Courtney, Sharpe, Finnigan, J Byrne, Kerry, Knights, McPhee, Bennett, Prosser, Smikle, Lawrie, McDermott, Goodfellow, Matthews.
Rushden from:
Roberts, Day, Huke, Osano, Robinson, Porter, Stuart, Downer, O'Connor, Wolleaston, Farrell, Tomlin, Thomas, Cousins, McNamara, Corcoran, Pattison, M Byrne, Hilliard, Higgins, Terry, Akurang, Louis.
Links to Rushden & Diamonds websites here
Directions to Kidderminster
here
Find Pubs around Kidderminster here
Find Hotels around Kidderminster here
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