Boston Preview

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Team News:

Injury worries for City ahead of the visit of Boston include the hamstring problem which ruled Lee Bullock out of last Saturday's defeat at Mansfield, as well as an injury sustained by player-manager Chris Brass during the same encounter. If Brass fails to recover in time then the three centre-backs will be comprised of three from Richard Hope, Stuart Wise, Leigh Wood and Chris Smith. Darren Edmondson will be hoping for a return to action following a lengthy spell on the sidelines with a calf injury, but he may need more time to work his way back to match-fitness, in which case Richard Cooper is likely to continue at right-back despite fans voicing their criticism of his recent performances.

Again, Brass should be spoilt for choice in terms of attacking options, as he could stick with the pairing of Lee Nogan and Dean Crowe that started the last two matches, or he could introduce any one of Jon Parkin, Liam George or Aron Wilford into the fray. Lee Bullock or Craig Dove may also be used in an advanced midfield role, or even as an out-and-out striker, although Bullock may be missing if his hamstring injury persists. Levent Yalcin is fighting his way back from a recurring injury and therefore will not be able to make his first appearance of this season.

Likely starting line-up: Ovendale; Smith, Brass, Hope; Cooper, Ward, Dunning, Bullock, Merris; Parkin, Nogan.

Boston can lay claim to a number of ex-City players in their squad, one of whom, Graham Potter, has picked up a groin injury and may not be able to make his return to Bootham Crescent. Another player who has recently left York for York Street is Peter Duffield, who picked up a knee strain during training on Monday and is also doubtful. Other players who have featured for the Minstermen include Matt Hocking and Chris Hogg (on loan from Ipswich), who will probably start the fixture, 'keeper Steve Croudson, who had a brief trial with City during the summer and will deputise for Paul Bastock, and of course player-manager Neil Thompson, who is likely to oversee events from the bench.

Boston's plentiful injury list features defenders Mark Greaves, who is suffering with a groin strain, and Ben Chapman, out with a medial ligament strain, forward Stuart Douglas with an ankle problem and midfielder Simon Rusk with a foot injury. Veteran midfielder Neil Redfearn has also recently been missing with a foot complaint, but has started running again, and Daryl Sutch has made significant strides forward in his fightback from his hamstring injury. The most recent addition to this list is Stuart Balmer, who is rated as doubtful for the clash after tweaking his achilles tendon during last weekend's victory over Cheltenham.

Recent additions to The Pilgrims' squads may feature heavily at Bootham Crescent. 21-year-old striker Adebayo Akifenwa was signed on a free transfer from Welsh outfit Barry Town just in time to make an encouraging midweek debut in Boston's LDV Vans Trophy victory over Swindon Town and has every chance of starting against City. Midfielder Scott Brough, signed this week on a free transfer from local rivals Scunthorpe, is more likely to start from the bench.

Likely starting line-up: Bastock, Beevers, Ellender, Hocking, Hogg, Angel, Bennett, Clarke, Lee Thompson, Weatherstone, Akifenwa.


Form guide:

City last five: Bristol Rovers (h) W 2-1, Macclesfield (a) D 0-0, Bury (a) L 0-2, Cambridge (h) W 2-0, Mansfield (a) L 0-2.

Boston last five: Bury (h) W 1-0, Darlington (a) L 0-3, Yeovil (a) L 0-2, Oxford (h) D 1-1, Cheltenham (h) W 3-1.


Last season's game:

City 2-0 Boston

The Pilgrims' first visit to Bootham Crescent last season resulted in what turned out to be an easy win for City, riding high in the league at the start of the campaign. The Minstermen played some very attractive football and, if anything, the final score could have been much worse for a Boston side who looked out of their depth.

However, the opening 15 minutes saw the visitors dominate and it was until Peter Duffield broke the deadlock with his fifth goal in as many games that City got into their stride. The goal came when Lee Bullock's crossfield pass split the Boston defence and Duffield coolly slotted the ball into the bottom corner, following two blocked efforts from Brackstone and Bullock.

Following that goal City gained the upper hand and Jon Parkin and Peter Duffield were denied by the offside flag and a fingertip save by Paul Bastock respectively. When the haslf-time whistle came, Dolan's team could count themselves unlucky not to have increased their lead.

This all changed just six minutes after the re-start though, when Graham Potter flicked Tom Cowan's free-kick onto Duffield, who then played a short pass to fellow striker Lee Nogan. The Welshmen was cool under pressure, shaking off the attention of ex-City defender Matt Hocking and prodding the ball past Bastock for City's second.

After the hour mark, Jon Parkin had two more great attempts to add a third, but on the first occasion he was ajudged to have been offside when he finished off a slick passing move from the Minstermen. Soon afterwards another opportunity arose, but this time Parkin curled the ball just inches around the post. Despite not taking all their chances, City had still put in a very encouraging performance, unlike Neil Thompson's Boston.

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