County vs Ebbsfleet

It’s ‘No Win, No Fee’ Day at Edgeley Park on Saturday as County play host to struggling Ebbsfleet United.

‘The Fleet’ have lost their first two matches of the new BSP season, going down 2-1 to York City last Saturday before a 1-0 reverse in Tamworth on Tuesday night.

County may be favourites on paper, but one thing that may get the visitors riled up is The Hatters’ promotion of No Win, No Fee – if SCFC lose, fans of both teams will receive a full refund of their match ticket if bought by Thursday of the week just gone!

Director Tony Evans, who is hoping to conclude a deal early next week to take a majority stake in the club, says that the promotion is to get a bumper crowd on County’s first Saturday home game of the season – as opposed to taking Ebbsfleet for a bunch of mugs.

Vital Quotes:

Didi Hamann: ”It’s a confidence thing for the lads to get an unbeaten start. We didn’t really know where we stood before last Friday because we brought in a lot of new players. But they’ve been great, Willie (McStay, assistant) and I have been delighted with their attitude since we got here.”

‘Getting a point last Friday was a solid start, and obviously the first win on Tuesday night after not playing too well for the first half-hour. We can play better than that and we have to play better, but of course to win the first home game – along with a clean sheet – is very good.”

Ebbsfleet boss Liam Daish: ”When we came into this league we were under the microscope again and I’ve got to see if the players can handle that.’

”They were different class for me last year, but it’s a different league now and it’s whether they can step up.”

”We’re not a million miles away I’m sure but I can’t keep saying the same thing game after game to certain players. They need to take on board what I’m saying and put it into action.”

County Team News:

Centre-back Nabil Bounab is a doubt after he had ten stitches last Tuesday after a clash of heads with Kettering striker Leon McKenzie.

Danny O’Donnell replaced Bounab on the night, and he put in a superb performance in the victory to stake his claim for a starting place. Carl Piergianni, signed on a one-year deal from Peterborough Utd, is likely to start alongside Bounab or O’Donnell.

Sean McConville serves the final match of his suspension as fans await his début for The Hatters, while skipper Nick Chadwick could partner new boy Elliott Chamberlain – on loan from Didi Hamann’s former club Leicester City – up front.

Jon Nolan could make his competitive début after recovering from a stomach bug.

Player to watch: Jon Nolan

The ‘Ginger Ninja’ (sorry Jon) impressed fans in pre-season with his tough tackling and calmness in midfield, but the former Everton man has missed the first two matches of the season through illness.

Jon Routledge and Sam Sheridan have done well in the middle of the park in Nolan’s absence, but should the 19 year-old get a place in the starting line-up tomorrow, the County fans will be eager to see his pre-season form transferred into competitive football.

Ebbsfleet Utd Team News:

Tom Phipp is suspended for the game at Edgeley Park, while Paul Lorraine (wrist) is still out injured.

The news on Scott Ginty is more positive for the away side though, after the striker came through 90 minutes and scored for the Fleet`s reserves in midweek.

Player to watch: Callum Willock

Willock scored the opening goal for The Fleet in their opening day 2-1 defeat to promotion-tipped York City, and the 29 year-old has scored 20 goals in 41 matches for our visitors.

Match Odds

County – 7/10

Draw – 12/5

Ebbsfleet – 19/5

Match Prediction:

My heart says 2-0 County, but my head is telling me that with the No Win, No Fee promotion we have going, it is County tradition to shoot ourselves in the foot on these days!

Forget it, 2-0 County!

Next Fixtures:

Kidderminster Harriers vs COUNTY

Tuesday 23rd August

Aggborough Stadium

Blue Square Bet Premier