Match preview Vs Southport

Steve Burr, the Harriers manager, has talked about changes to the side following a poor first half display against Stockport County on Tuesday evening.  We looked well off the pace against a slick County side that passed the ball around our midfield with ease and found room down the flanks to rain balls in to their strikers.  Luckily we found their measure in the second half when we bought on Jamille Matt and Luke Medley and they took the game more to our opponents.

A late goal from the Harriers Online sponsored Scott Phelan rescued a point for us but it was, by that stage, looking like another home defeat for us.  Burr has hinted that he could be playing Jack Byrne for the first time this season now that he's finished his five match ban and that could mean that Callum Gittings would lose his place and the midfield would become more tenacious.  Just as long as Jack doesn't see red again.

Two that did see red were for our visitors tomorrow, Southport, were defender Steve Akrigg who was dismissed at Luton on Saturday for two yellow cards and so missed the midweek home defeat to table topping Gateshead.  In that game on Tuesday their keeper Tony McMillan bought down Yemi Odubade in the penalty area and he'll now serve a one match ban against us.  They will also be without Jay Smith with a hamstring strain picked up in the same game.

We should be at almost full strength now with only Jack Cresswell still out with a hamstring injury.  Central defender Michael Briscoe is back in contention for a place in the team and he could be one of the changes hinted at by the manager along with a new look forward line if Steve Guinan is still feeling the cramp in his thighs that he went off with on Tuesday.  Kyle Storer also picked up a slight knock to his knee against Stockport but he too should be fit.

I'm not expecting to see a repeat of the same fixture from last season when we lost 3-4 after taking an early five minute lead through Michael Briscoe.  I do hope we get to see a reverse of that result and get our home games well and truly up and running. We need it.


Harriers from:
Lewis, Lyness, Vaughan, Mike Williams, Sharpe, Jones, Demetriou, Byrne, Phelan, Briscoe, Marshall, Storer, Vincent, Hankin, Guinan, Wright, Thompson-Brown, Matt, Gittings, Marc Williams, Medley.

Southport from:
Nemes, Lee, Lever, Akrigg, Davis, Grand, Whalley, Moogan, Daly, Gray, McGinn, Brown, Smith, Owens, Turner, Ledsham, Benjamin, Kissock, Ordish, Carden, Osborne.

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