Tamworth Preview

[Kingmouse]

York City’s first competitive home game since relegation will be a must win occasion for Chris Brass’ new look team. After Saturday’s dismal performance against Aldershot, City will be praying for a win to drag themselves off the bottom of the Conference table and to avoid increasing their ten match run at Bootham Crescent without a win.

City fans will no doubt still be reeling in Saturday’s Conference day opening defeat against the ‘shots and a good start at home will be critical to both players and fans. One good piece of news is that City came away from the 90 minutes at the Recreation ground without any noticeable injuries. However, Gary Pearson will be suspended for the Tamworth game for his dismissal in the 69th minute against Aldershot for violent conduct as the FA have produced new disciplinary guidelines for the 2004/2005 season in which players receive an instant ban.

Brass will have to ponder on which formation and line-up he chooses for the clash with Tamworth, the 4-4-2 employed on Saturday or the three pronged attack that he has favoured at home during the second half of last season. New central defender Chris Clarke will be hoping to be given another chance after being exploited by Aldershot’s fast attack, and will have to find a replacement for suspended Pearson who was given his marching orders midway through the second half.

Brass will be encouraged by the start of winger Bryan Stewart and the three lively front men Bishop, Yalcin and Robinson made. Stewart crafted some penetrating run’s down the left hand side of the City midfield and certainly impressed City fans who witnessed his close dribbling skills, Brass will surly consider Bryan in his starting eleven if the Stockton born midfielder remains fit. The three strikers that were used in the Aldershot game have done their team selection no harm with plenty of willingness to chase long balls and lost causes, however they will be hoping for better service against the lambs on Tuesday if City have any realistic chance of achieving a promotion place.

City’s opponents, Tamworth, are nestled amongst the bookies least fancied teams to avoid the drop, however new manager Mark Cooper will hope that his team can avoid relegation this campaign and his Lambs won’t be sent to the slaughter. Cooper had been promoted from his position as player-coach to replace Darron Gee, who resigned at the close of last season. Cooper a former Birmingham midfielder and son of former England international Terry has spent the last two seasons at The Lamb Ground.

Optimism will be high after Tamworth recorded their first opening day victory since the 97/98 season, they beat City’s local rivals Halifax Town 2-1 on Saturday. The Lambs goals scorers were Aaron Brown and Tris Whitman.

Tamworth’s battle against the odds will be made easier by the recent arrival of Neil Ross who is on a month's loan from Macclesfield, the 22-year old striker will be hoping to impress as competition for starting places at Macclesfield has forced him to look for a contract else where. On other Tamworth transfer information, added to the books are ex- Scarbough defender Matt Redmile from Barnet, 19-year-old former Lincoln City forward Rory May, Chad Sheppard, 18, from Birmingham City and impressive pre-season trialists Scott Stamps and Mark Shaw.

City gaffer Chris Brass will have to warn his defence about hotshot striker Norman Sylla, fans favourite Sylla is another recent name added to the Tamworth playing squad. ‘Storming Norman', as he has been nicknamed by the Tamworth faithful was previously on the books at Barnet and scored 42 goals for Banbury in the 2002/2003 season. The French target man will be hoping to add some competitive goals to his already impressive tally, he has been prolific in the Lambs pre-season games hitting 7 goals. Another threat to the Minstermen is talented striker Tris Whitman, another new player in Cooper’s squad. Whitman will test the senior legs of City’s back line with his blistering pace and composed finishing. Last season much travelled Whitman made appearances for no less than five different clubs; Doncaster, Tamworth, Dagenham, Scarborough and Leigh RMI. Tris will be hoping to find his feet leading the Lambs frontline after scoring in Tamworth’s opener against Halifax, last term Tris scored three goals in seven games whilst on loan at the Lambs Ground.

Cooper had this to say on his teams visit up north "It's a difficult start for us against two full time sides," Cooper admitted. "But the start of the season is a good time to play them, I'm sure they will approach the game thinking we will just roll over for them. We have to prove that we are much more difficult to beat, we will be raring to go come kick off time on Saturday".

How the Teams Line Up

York City (Possible line-up) – Crichton, Law, Clarke, Davis, Smith, Brass, Groves, Dunning, Merris, Robinson, Bishop.
Substitutes; Porter, Davies, Coad, Yalcin, Nogan.

Tamworth (Possible line-up) - Price, Stamps, Smith, Redmile, Brown, Shaw, Cooper, Ebdon, Blunt, Whitman, Ross.
Substitutes; May, Bampton, Sheppard, Sylla, Turner.

Form Guide

York City - L - Aldershot (A).

Tamworth - W - Halifax Town (H).

Related Links

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YorkCityFC.com Prediction League

Official Tamworth FC Website
Tamworth FC Fans’ Forum
Tamworth Herald – TFC Section

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