County hope to maintain an unbeaten start to the season tonight at Kidderminster Harriers.
Kiddy have picked up 6 points on the road this week and have catapulted themselves in amongst the early leading pack. The Harriers, under Steve Burr, will be hoping to pick up their first home win of the season tonight in Aggborough though.
For County fans, a 1-1 draw at home to Ebbsfleet Utd has been overshadowed, as usual, by constant takeover talk and bickering.
Tony Evans wrote in the programme on Saturday that he hoped a deal would be done by kick-off on the day – it wasn’t. Evans seems to be getting more and more edgy about the deal on Twitter, and as usual, shareholders and directors from County have been silent.
Talks has been rife this week that Evans will walk away if the deal isn’t completed soon, and that leaves Hatters fans with the gloomy prospect of another error-prone season under the stewardship of 2015.
Vital Quotes:
Didi Hamann: ”We probably should have won on Saturday, but giving a goal away just after we went 1-0 up cost us.”
”Overall we should have got the three points, our finishing was not what it could have been and that’s what we need to work on.”
”But we’ve taken a point and come through pretty much unscathed and we’ll take that on to tonight and go there for a win.”
Kiddy boss Steve Burr: ”I remember County fondly from my days at Macclesfield when they’d come and have a pre-season friendly fixture against us that was always a big fixture in our calendar.”
”They’re a big club but they are where they are – they’ll have to try and bounce back quickly and I’m sure that’s their aim.”
Kidderminster Harriers Team News:
Midfielder Jack Byrne misses out through the final game of his five-match suspension picked up at the end of last season, while centre-back Michael Briscoe is fit for selection after a back injury was successfully recovered from.
Midfielder Jack Cresswell will miss out with a hamstring strain.
Player to watch: Steve Guinan
The experienced Guinan, now 35, has played for 18 clubs in and around the Football League and is a true journeyman striker.
Bags of experience and two goals in his first three games for Kiddy should set alarm bells ringing for County’s defence.
County Team News:
For County, it’s pretty much a clean bill of health.
Ryan McCann and Jon Miles could come back into the squad after being dropped for Andy Halls and Danny Rowe on Saturday.
Rowe himself, MOTM in the draw, was subbed after 60 minutes after an early season struggle to gain full match fitness and could be in line for a full 90 minutes tonight.
Nabil Bounab is all-clear after receiving ten stitches in a wound above the eye last Tuesday night, but the big news for Hamann and County is that Sean McConville is cleared to play after serving a three match-ban.
Player to watch: Sean McConville
Easy one this, with ex-Accrington man McConville being the player all County fans are looking forward to seeing.
The winger scored 13 goals and made 13 assists as his side got to the play-offs last season, and controversially opted to join County on a double-your-money move.
Having served a suspension picked up in the above-mentioned play-off, McConville is ready to play and could (hopefully!) be the missing piece in the jigsaw for County.
Match Odds
Kiddy – 11/10
Draw – 12/5
County – 21/10
Next Fixtures:
Friday, 26 August 2011
Blue Square Bet Premier
Lincoln City v COUNTY, 19:45
Sincil Bank
