Yeovil Preview

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Team News

With relegation looming a long-awaited win looks essential for City going into Tuesday night's home fixture against Yeovil. The axe may fall on certain players following the Minstermen's 2-0 defeat against Cheltenham at the weekend, and in the past those liable to be dropped include defender Chris Smith and midfielder Leigh Wood. Brass himself took a knock in the game, but if he recovers in time he may drop back to defence at the expense of Smith. Mitch Ward is back in the fold after a spell out with injury, and he or Richard Cooper looks the likely replacement for Wood.

Stuart Wise has been bothered by a calf strain recently, but he may well plough on at the heart of City's defence. One player whose place on Tuesday is not certain is assistant manager Lee Nogan after an unconvincing display against the Robins marked with a bizarre own-goal, but given the manager's reluctance to drop him in the past it would be a surprise to see him left out. Either way, Andy Bell is waiting on the sidelines for another chance to prove his worth, having recently been restricted to cameo appearances. Levent Yalcin, however, is doubtful after a recurrence of a previous injury worry.

The front pairing of Jon Newby and Liam George, though, will probably be unbreached, with competition for places having been reduced after the return of Richard Offiong to Newcastle. Richard Hope received a red card in a recent 2-0 loss at Cambridge, and will be forced to sit this tie out. Brass, Wood or youngster Sean Davies will step into his shoes, unless of course a change of formation is adopted. Mark Ovendale's suspension, caused by his late dismissal on Saturday, does not come into force for a while.

Possible team - Ovendale; Smith, Wise, Hope; Dunning, Wood, Brass, Edmondson; Nogan, George, Newby.

Playoff hopefuls Yeovil travel to Bootham Crescent on the back of a 2-1 win against Bury (their first in six matches). Their two goals came from supersub Danni Rodrigues, the first of which was described by Glovers boss Gary Johnson as "Roy Of The Rovers-esque". Rodrigues had not featured in the first team for around nine months, and is not yet at full fitness level so may be restricted to benchwarming duties again. If he is judged to be ready for 90 minutes, he will probably take the place of Adam Stansfield in order to support Jake Edwards and Kevin Gall in attack.

Gavin Williams returns from a one-match ban and so could well be included in the midfield, while Darren Way and Simon Weatherstone are both doubtful as they struggle with injuries. Add to this long-term worries Chris Weale and Roy O'Brien and Gary Johnson is down to the "bare bones" of his Town squad. Influential players such as skipper Paul Terry (brother of Chelsea and England star John) as well as giant defender Hugo Rodrigues remain, though, and given the importance of the fixture to both sides we look to be in for a frenetic encounter.

Possible team - Collis; Lockwood, Skiverton, Pluck, Hugo Rodrigues; Johnson, Crittenden, Terry; Danni Rodrigues, Gall, Edwards.


Form guide

City - Bristol Rovers (a) L 0-3, Macclesfield (h) L 0-2, Cambridge (a) L 0-2, Bury (h) D 1-1, Cheltenham (h) L 0-2.

Yeovil - Mansfield (h) D 1-1, Torquay (a) D 2-2, Cheltenham (h) D 0-0, Boston (a) L 2-3, Bury (h) W 2-1.


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