September
Newsfile

Newsfile Archive

City are set to play a 4 - 3 - 3 formation under the control of Ian Butterworth. The line up will be

Walton / Kendall
Thompson  Young  Hughes  Brazier
Hamilton  Bonner  Maxwell
Low  Nugent  Gordon

This is only the second time ever City have played Rushden. The last time was in 1995 when City won 3 - 1 in the FA Cup at Nene Park.

Diamonds have had Kurt Nogan and Jason Fowler on trial this season but neither player has been taken on. One player that has moved to Northamptonshire though is former City midfielder Scott Partridge. The man with the permanently bandaged arm (when he played for us) moved from Brentford earlier in the season but is currently injured and will not play tonight.

City will only open the Grandstand and Family Stand tonight as a smallish crowd is expected.

Tonight could be the time of reckoning for some of these players. Matt Brazier and Andy Thompson, both on the transfer list, have been called for by many of the fans to move up and replace Simpkins and Weston. Tonight they will have a chance to show if they should be considered.

Gavin Gordon has suffered with injury and a loss in confidence will be looking to prove he is worth the £500,000 we paid for him. Des Hamilton must wonder whats happening to him. One of the better performers this season and he's dropped to the reserves.

Many players with points to prove. The team above have been playing and winning in the reserve league.

Rushden though will be no pushovers. They are unbeaten in their last 6 league games, 2 wins and 4 draws have them placed at 12th in Division 3 and last Saturday they held the then leaders Rochdale to a goalless draw at Spotland.

Kick off at Ninian Park is at 7:45pm.

With a Millennium Stadium final this competition should not be taken too lightly.

Alan Cork has said about tonights game.

"The team I'm putting out is a good team. I think it would hold its own in the Third Division. No disrespect to Swansea but I think they'd like this team right now.

I'm certainly not taking this competition lightly but the league has got to be our priority especially considering our current position in the table.

But this match is valuable for me because it gives me a chance to look at players in a good competitive game.

If they do well then they've got a good chance of making the starting 11 in the next game. I'll be looking at their attitudes. It's all about attitude."

Its thought that Cork will sit in the stand and take a look at the team while Ian Butterworth manages from the dug out.