League Two Form Guide

		P	GD	Pts
1	Bromley	6	+3	12
2	MK Dons	6	+4	11
3	Colchester	6	+4	11
4	Notts County	6	+2	11
5	Cambridge Utd	6	+2	11
6	Swindon	6	+2	10
7	Salford	6	-1	10
8	Accrington Stanley	6	+2	9
9	Walsall	6	+2	9
10	Tranmere	6	+1	9
11	Cheltenham	6	0	9
12	Crawley Town	6	+3	8
13	Oldham	6	+2	8
14	Fleetwood Town	6	+1	8
15	Crewe	6	0	8
16	Shrewsbury	6	-2	8
17	Chesterfield	6	0	7
18	Gillingham	6	0	7
19	Barrow	6	-2	6
20	Barnet	6	-1	5
21	Grimsby	6	-2	5
22	Newport County	6	-5	4
23	Harrogate Town	6	-8	2
24	Bristol Rovers	6	-12	0

Full Form Table
Prem|Champ|L1|NL|VN|VS
SPL|SC|S1|S2

Question of the Week

Where will Grimsby finish?

Rushden Preview

By: Richard Hubbert
Date: 19/08/2004

NOW Town have got their first win of the season under their belts they will be looking to record their first away victory since November 2003 when they visit Rushden and Diamonds.

Home > 2004-2005 Season > Previews > Rushden (a)

The Opposition

Overview

Following their relegation with Town last season, Rushden have also seen many changes at Nene Park. Ernie Tippett (left) was appointed their new manager right at the end of last season, after Brian Talbot departed for Oldham Athletic, leaving the inexperienced Barry Hunter in the hotseat. Tippet is a former teacher who has spent some time on the coaching staff at Wimbledon and Manchester City in recent years. Hunter managed only one win from eight games in charge - one of which included a 1-0 defeat to the Mariners in April. Five days after that game at Blundell Park, Tippett was made Rushden boss, and after failing to keep the club in division two, he now sets out to help Rushden go straight back up at the first attempt.

Their Squad

In goal for Rushden is experienced keeperâ€™ Bill Turley who has had spells in the league with Northampton and Leyton Orient. He became the Conferenceâ€™s most expensive player in 1999 when he signed from Northampton for Â£120,000. Ex-Tranmere and Everton defender Graham Allen( left) was added to the squad over the summer and has added some much needed solidarity to the Rushden backline. He joins two other ex Tranmere players - Alex Hay and Sean Connelly. Up front for Rushden this season with Hay, has been Millwall youngster Kevin Braniff who scored against Lincoln last week. He is on loan from the New Den for three months.

Head to Head

The two clubs have only met twice in the past, both last season, when Town won 1-0 at home and lost 3-1 away.

P 2 W 1 D 0 L 1 F 2 A 3

Rushden Head-to-Head

Last Meeting

Town last met Rushden just four months ago, when both teams were in Division two. A few weeks later, both clubs suffered relegation and now find themselves in the bottom division. The basement clash was watched by less than 4,000 at Blundell Park, and the fans saw Town dominate from the start, but struggle to find the back of the net. Rushden put lots of men behind the ball and looked to be heading for a 0-0 draw, until a Phil Jevons penalty in the 80th minute secured all three points for the Mariners. Rushdenâ€™s Jack Duffy was later sent off for elbowing Tony Crane . Interestingly, only there is only Jason Crowe and Darren Mansaram who started this game and are expected to start the game on Saturday - a sign of the changes in Cleethorpes over the past few months.

Grimsby Team: Fettis, Crowe, Crane, Edwards, Darren Barnard (Ford, 85), Anderson, Campbell, Coldicott, Jevons, Rankin, Mansaram (Soames, 74)
Subs: (not used) Rowan,Hockless,Warhurst

Rushden Team: Turley, Roget, Hunter, Edwards, Sambrook, Bell (Kelly, 82), Hanlon, Gray, Burgess, Jack, Duffy (sent off 89)
Subs: (not used) Mills,Gahan,Story,Okuonghae

Attendance: 3,890 Report

Recent Form

Town

Rushden

W	Bury	(h)	5-1
L	Boston	(h)	1-1
W	Darlington	(a)	0-1

Currently 7th in League Two.

L	Lincoln	(a)	3-1
W	Northampton	(a)	0-1
W	Kidderminster	(h)	0-0

Currently 8th in League Two.

Connections

Former Town defender Andy Tillson finished his professional career with Rushden in 2003 after making just over 20 appearances for the Nene Park club.

Tillson was brought to Blundell Park by Alan Buckley from his old club, Kettering, back in 1988, before big money moves to QPR and Bristol Rovers in the early 1990s. After a series of injuries, he ended his professional career with the Diamonds at the age of 36.

Team News

Town

Rushden

Town have been hit with the news that central defender Rob Jones will be out for six weeks after suffering from a knee injury. Russell Slade signed former player Glen Downey as cover on a season-long loan from Scarborough, but Downey picked up an ankle injury in the reserve game this week, and will also be out for several weeks.

Dean Gordon is likely to keep his place in the back three after last week's win, but fit-again Ronnie Bull will probably have to settle for a place on the bench.

Graham Hockless, David Soames and Clint Marcelle were all given a reserve match to maintain their fitness, but none are likely to make the starting line-up.

Michael Reddy could start the game, but would not necessarily last 90 minutes. Therefore, Slade may favour the option of using him on the bench once more.

Defender Rob Gier is fit to return to the squad after a groin injury.

Defender Sean Connelly is struggling to overcome a virus and Gary Mills is carrying a foot injury he sustained in training. Both are expected to be ready.

Probable Teams

Town

Rushden

1	Anthony Williams
24	Dean Gordon
4	Simon Ramsden
6	Justin Whittle
8	Jason Crowe
17	Thomas Pinault
15	Terry Fleming
2	John McDermott
7	Ashley Sestanovich
19	Darren Mansaram
10	Andy Parkinson

1.	Billy Turley
2.	Sean Connelly
5.	Graham Allen
20.	Philip Gulliver
3.	Peter Hawkins
21.	Craig Dove
4.	Gary Mills
8.	Stuart Gray
11.	Andy Burgess
7.	Alex Hay
18.	Kevin Braniff

Subs

Town

Rushden

11	Stacy Coldicott
23	Clint Marcelle
9	Michael Reddy
16	Ronnie Bull
3	Greg Young

17.	Lee Worgan (GK)
14.	John Dempster
15.	Andrew Sambrook
23.	Marcus Kelly
35.	Simeon Jackson

Prediction

Fishy prediction: Town finally get off the mark and win 2-1

1-0 to Town!

Past Predictions

Game	Prediction	Score	Points
Bury	2-1	5-1	1
Boston	2-2	1-1	1
Darlington	1-0	0-1	0

Reader's POMs

Directions

Click on the link for directions to Nene Park ( left).

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