Worthington Cup Previews

fourth round ties
By J Bateman
December 4 2002

Tonights Worthington Cup ties preveiwing Nationwide League Division One teams , Aston Villa v Preston , Blackburn v Rotherham , Liverpool v Ipswich.

Aston Villa v Preston
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Villa are being dogged by reported transfer misdoings , hopefully tonight Villa can get that out of there systems and overcome an in form Preston side , Graham Taylor will be without Mark Delany and Peter Crouch still while Olof Mellberg will be rested.
Ulises de la Cruz or Jlloyd Samuel might be incontention to take over at right back for Mellberg , Gareth Barry makes a welcome return from suspension.

Preston are hoping to emulate Sheff Utd's success last night by getting through to the quarter finals at the expense of Aston Villa.
Ricardo Fuller seems certain of missing the tie so David Healy might come in to partner Richard Creswell in Fullers place , Mark Rankine might replace Paul Mckenna if the midfielder doesnt pass a late fitness test.

Blackburn v Rotherham
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The holders have 2 major doubts for tonights game , Garry Flitcroft will be out for a month with a bad ankle injury while David Dunn misses the game due to a hamstring injury.
Alan Kelly comes in for the rested Brad friedel in goal but other than that everything is rosey for Graeme Souness, Cole and Yorke will not start so Matt Jansen and forgotten boy Carlo Grabbi will start possibly.

Rotherham Boss Ronnie Moore has a fully fit squad to choose from and also welcomes back Martin Macintosh tonight after the defender was suspended on saturday.
Rotherham's teams are generally well known for there dogged performance's and will i'm sure give the cup holders a massive game tonight backed by a full contident of Millers fans.

Liverpool v Ipswich
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It's no surprise for everybody that Liverpool make at least one change tonight that being Kirkland in for Dudek , other news in the camp is that Emile Heskey is also out with a swollen ankle.
Liverpool apart from Dudek will make a host of changes which is not unusual in this competition for top flight clubs , Michael Owen, Dietmar Hamann, Danny Murphy and Jamie Carragher could all be rested so that gives a chance to the fringe players at Anfield to get a run out.

Ipswich's good for off late could still be tested even will the mass changes for Liverpool , golakeeper Paul Gerrard will not make a Merseyside return as he is cuptied and Martijn Reuser, Finidi George ,Fabian Wilnis and John McGreal are all out injured.
Joe Royle brings in Richard Naylor in from the cold and young Nabil Abdullah to cater for the injurys at Portman Road.

Predictions
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Aston Villa 1 Preston 0
Blackburn 2 Rotherham 0
Liverpool 2 Ipswich 1