Weekend Team News

crystal p v leeds
By Matt Lond & J Bateman
February 14 2003

All the Weekends FA Cup and Nationwide League Division One Team News.

Nationwide League Division One 

Bradford v Brighton at Valley Parade ko - 15-00

Defender David Wetherall looks set to return to the Bradford side for the home game against struggling Brighton. A hamstring injury has kept the defender out of action since December. On-loan goalkeeper Stefan Magnusson sustained a knee injury in the reserves' defeat by Aston Villa in midweek, which gave Gary Walsh the opportunity to make his first appearance for the club since August. Walsh will provide cover for first-choice Aidan Davison. Danny Cadamarteri is back in the reckoning after the club reached an agreement with the player over a contract wrangle.

New signing Ivar Ingimarsson is standing by to make his debut for Brighton. The 25-year-old, signed earlier this week on a month's loan from Wolves, will play in central defence if Robbie Pethick fails a fitness test after injuring his back in training. Gary Hart, who scored one of the goals in Albion's 4-1 home win over Wolves last Saturday, continues to partner Bobby Zamora up front with Graham Barrett again on the bench.

One To Watch Bobby Zamora - Brighton

Prediction Bradford 1 Brighton 1 

Derby v Sheff Wed at Pride Park ko - 15-00

Derby striker Fabrizio Ravanelli is pushing even harder for a starting spot against Sheffield Wednesday after completing 90 minutes for the reserves in midweek as they won 4-0 against Spurs. Craig Burley also came through the match and may be in line for a recall. The Rams have no suspension worries as they look to bounce back from their heavy defeat at Portsmouth last weekend.

Sheffield Wednesday midfielder Phil O'Donnell has suffered another injury setback. He tore a thigh muscle in training this week and is expected to be out for a further six weeks. Wednesday captain Trond Soltvedt also faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines after sustaining an ankle injury in the reserves' goalless draw with Leeds on Wednesday. Simon Donnelly is out for at least three more weeks while Derek Geary will not feature as he is set to go for an operation on his knee. However, Paul McLaren could be named in the squad after recovering from a hip injury and striker Lloyd Owusu, back to full fitness following a knee problem, is also pushing for a place in the starting line-up.

One To Watch Fabrizio Ravenelli - Derby

Prediction Derby 1 Sheff Wed 0

Gillingham v Grimsby At Priestfield Stadium ko - 15-00

Gillingham player-manager Andy Hessenthaler is sweating on the fitness of Kevin James ahead of the game with Grimsby. James has swelling behind his knee, sustained during Monday night's defeat to Reading, and is rated as very doubtful. Knocks also eblong to Hessenthaler (calf), Chris Hope (ankle) and Nayron Nosworthy (groin) from the same game but should all be available to play. Mamady Sidibe and Jason Brown came through their midweek international action unscathed, while striker Paul Shaw is available after recovering from a knee injury.

Grimsby boss Paul Groves has a striker crisis on his hands. Teenager David Soames, who came on as a second-half substitute against Stoke, is "touch and go" with the ankle injury he sustained in a midweek reserve match against Lincoln. Steve Livingstone is serving the second of a three-match suspension, Darren Mansaram is doubtful with ankle ligament trouble and American Jake Sagare is still ill. Groves also has a major concern over midfielder Alan Pouton after he aggravated the knee injury which kept him on the sidelines for six weeks during the 2-0 victory over the Potters last weekend. Centre-back Steve Chettle has managed to train this week, despite missing the Stoke game with a suspected hernia which has since been ruled out.

One To Watch Andy Hessentaler - Gillingham

Prediction Gillingham 2 Grimsby 0

Rotherham v Coventry at Millmoor ko - 15-00

Rotherham manager Ronnie Moore has the luxury of a full-strength side to choose from ahead of the home game with Coventry. The Millers have no injury or suspension worries to address as they look to build on their 2-1 win at Watford last week.

Coventry loan striker Matt Jansen completed his switch from Blackburn in time to be available for the trip to Rotherham but will not play for "personal reasons." The Sky Blues can, however, give a debut to on-loan midfielder Vicente Engonga after the former Spain international finally received international clearance. John Eustace goes straight back into contention after returning from a one-month loan spell at Middlesbrough, but fellow midfielder Youssef Chippo is suspended following his red card in the 1-0 home defeat to Watford.

One To Watch Gary Mcallister - Coventry

Prediction Rotherham 1 Coventry 1 

Millwall v Reading at The New Den ko - 13-00

Millwall defender Stuart Nethercott is in contention for a first-team return against Reading after a successful run-out for the reserves in midweek. Nethercott has been out with a groin problem since January and could return to action against the Royals. Andy Roberts and Ben May also turned out for the second string to boost their fitness levels after returning to the first-team squad last weekend. The game is likely to come too soon for Millwall's other walking wounded - Mark Phillips (hamstring), Neil Harris (ankle) and Richard Sadlier (hip) - although the trio are expected to be back before the end of the month.

Reading midfielder Ricky Newman misses the trip after collecting 10 yellow cards this season. He will also miss the games against Sheffield United and Rotherham as a result of the ban. That is likely to mean a recall for Andy Hughes, who came on as a substitute during Monday's 2-1 win over Gillingham.Reading have no injury worries and are unlikely to make any more changes to the side that started against the Gills. After three goals in the last two games, John Salako will keep young England star Nathan Tyson on the bench and Manchester United's Luke Chadwick will play his second game after arriving on loan.

One To Watch Luke Chadwick - Reading 

Prediction Millwall 1 Reading 2

Saturday's FA Cup 5th Round Fixtures

Sheff Utd v Walsall at Bramall Lane ko - 15-00

Sheffield United are confident Wayne Quinn will be fit for the FA Cup fifth-round tie against Walsall, despite limping out of the defeat at Ipswich after hurting his back. Striker Dean Windass is cup-tied, which will open the door for Wayne Allison or Tommy Mooney to start.

Walsall are hoping defender Ian Roper will be fit to return after a groin strain. Former Leeds defender Danny Hay is available again after serving a one-match ban for five yellow cards but Walsall will be without Neil Emblen, who has returned to Norwich after a loan spell.

One To Watch Michael Brown - Sheff Utd

Prediction Sheff Utd 3 Walsall 1

Southampton v Norwich at St Mary's ko - 15-00

Rory Delap is in contention to return for Southampton after missing the last three games with a calf strain. Right-back Jason Dodd could also start while Danny Higginbotham, a £1.5m signing from Derby, is in contention. for a starting place. David Prutton is cup-tied while England defender Wayne Bridge and Latvian striker Marian Pahars are sidelined with calf and ankle injuries respectively.

Norwich are waiting on the fitness of defender Darren Kenton after he sustained a dead leg in the draw at Sheffield Wednesday, and is rated at 50-50 for the Saints trip. On-loan Preston striker David Healy is cup-tied after playing against Rochdale earlier in the third round, but winger Mark Rivers has recovered from an abdominal strain and will play.

One To Watch James Beattie - Southampton

Prediction Southampton 2 Norwich 0 

Sunderland v Watford at Stadium Of Light ko - 15-00

Sunderland are without central defender Emerson Thome (knee ligament damage) and await a late fitness check on midfielder Gavin McCann, who has a calf injury. Phil Babb will contest the vacancy in defence with on-loan Moroccan international Talal el Karkouri and Kevin Kilbane will return to the starting line-up after missing the 4-1 defeat at Tottenham because of suspension.

Watford manager Ray Lewington will make a last-minute decision as to whether to risk Jermaine Pennant. The on-loan Arsenal player is still struggling with the Achilles injury that forced him to miss the England Under-21 match against Italy on Tuesday night. Striker Marcus Gayle is in contention after missing the disappointing 2-1 defeat against Rotherham with a hamstring strain.

One To Watch Kevin Phillips - Sunderland

Prediction Sunderland 1 Watford 0

Sunday's FA Cup 5th Round Fixtures

Crystal P v Leeds at Selhurst Park ko - 13-00 (SKY)

Crystal Palace defender Tony Popovic will miss out sustaining a calf injury in Australia's 3-1 win against England in which he scored the opening goal. Midfielder Aki Riihilahti is available after his quick recovery from a thigh injury allowed him to play in Finland's friendly win over Northern Ireland.

Leeds United captain Dominic Matteo is out for at least a month with a hamstring tear, so Lucas Radebe is poised to partner Michael Duberry in the centre of defence. Eirik Bakke, employed as an emergency striker in the last two matches, could be out for more than six weeks with ankle ligament damage, while Paul Okon is doubtful with a hamstring injury sustained in Australia's 3-1 win over England. Mark Viduka is serving the second game of a three-match ban after being sent off in the fourth round.

One To Watch Terry Venables - Leeds Manager

Prediction C Palace 1 Leeds 1 

Fulham v Burnley at Loftus Road ko - 15-00

Fulham have suspension and injury worries. Luis Boa Morte is banned for one game, while defender Zat Knight and midfielder Sylvain Legwinski are both sidelined with hamstring strains. Right-back Steve Finnan is expected to be fit to face Burnley after missing the Republic of Ireland's 2-0 success in Scotland on Wednesday with illness.

Burnley hope to welcome back Glen Little and Lee Briscoe after missing the victory at Coventry because of a stomach and thigh injury respectively.

One To Watch Steve Marley - Fulham

Prediction Fulham 3 Burnley 0

Stoke v Chelsea at Brittania Stadium ko - 16-00 (SKY)

Stoke are likely to recall Chris Greenacre as loan striker Lee Mills is cup-tied.  On-loan defender Frazer Richardson's involvement depends on whether Leeds defeat Crystal Palace in their FA Cup tie which begins three hours earlier.

Chelsea star Gianfranco Zola could miss the game as he attempts to recover from a thigh injury sustained in the win at Birmimgham last weekend. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink is standing by to replace Zola against the First Division strugglers having proved his recovery from an ankle injury aswell as scoring in the win at Birmingham.

One To Watch Eidar Gudjohnssen - Chelsea

Prediction Stoke 1 Chelsea 4

Wolves v Rochdale at Molineux ko - 19-00 (BBC)

Wolves striker Nathan Blake has a chance of a place on the bench after making a goalscoring return in the Birmingham Senior Cup win over Hednesford after three months out with foot ligament damage. Winger Mark Kennedy and George Ndah hope to recover from hamstring troubles.

Rochdale captain Gareth Griffiths was substituted with concussion against Darlington and faces a late fitness test, while Michael Oliver pulled his hamstring and is almost certain to be ruled out. Manager Paul Simpson, who makes a return to Molineux, was already sweating on the fitness of of Neil Edwards and Paul Connor, who missed the Darlington match, but at least has David Flitcroft back from suspension.

One To Watch Paul Simpson - Rochdale

Prediction Wolves 3 Rochdale 1

Full Match Previews can be found at --

Gillingham UpTheGills.tk

Grimsby The Mariner

Ipswich Singing The Blues

Sheff Utd bladesfc.co.uk

Walsall The Saddlers FC

Wolves wolvesfc.co.uk