February
Newsfile

Newsfile Archive

Rob Earnshaw returns to the City squad today after a 6 week absence. Earnie pulled up with a hamstring injury after scoring against Swindon at Ninian Park early last month but Lennie has brought him back into the squad and is expected to put him on the bench.

Mark Bonner is also fit and available. Jason Bowen and Layton Maxwell are not quite ready to return yet.

City lined up last week

Alexander, Weston, Prior, Young, Gabbidon, Legg, Boland, Kavanagh, Leo FW, Thorne, Campbell.

Assuming the same line up today City will then choose the subs from

Bywater (gk), Croft, Earnshaw, Bonner, Brayson, Simpkins, Collins, Jones.

Earnie is looking forward to playing again

"This season has been a nightmare for me because of all the injuries I've had," he told the Western Mail. "I missed five weeks at the start of the season with a hamstring problem and now I've been out for nearly six weeks. But hopefully I'll get on against Chesterfield and sign myself back with a goal."

Chesterfield are expected to line up, Abbey, O'Hare, Payne, Buchanan, Howson, Breckin, Ebdon, Innes, Allott, Burt and Hurst. We have been warned from messageboard regular NMT that Jamie Burt is one to watch.

City can move back into the top 6 today if they win but again we are hoping for Bristol City to drop points. Cardiff, by winning all the remaining games, would guarantee a top 6 finish but that's unlikely to happen. Never say never though. Lennie is putting his jigsaw together and has said

"The final pieces of the jigsaw are in place and it is up to the players to put it all together."

He is referring to the new signings this week and he is happy now he has strength in al departments. The return of Earnie is a massive boost and with 10 goals in the last two games City are already sporting a potent attack.

Chesterfield are safe from relegation and nowhere near the play offs so pride is all they have left. They beat Bristol City recently so should not be taken for granted.

City beat the Spirites 2 - 1 at Ninian Park earlier in the season and who will forget the two draws last season. Firstly Kevin Evans and Jason Bowen scored two of the goals of the season at Saltergate before Chesterfield came back to earn a 2 - 2 draw and it was City's turn to come back when Kevin Evans (below) scored an incredible header in injury time to earn a 3 - 3 draw from City at Ninian Park.

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City return to the capital for the second of a bank holiday double against Port Vale.

Since Lennie took over he has gone 7 games unbeaten. His first three games saw the club win three in a row for the first time this season, two draws followed but wins on the last two games mean we can go for three in a row again. A win today will also mean the completion of three league doubles in a row and a win on Monday as well would mean 4 in a row and 4 league doubles.

OK I'm running away a bit now but both games are winnable.

Good luck to City today and lets hope the Easter Bunnie brings us results and not eggs this Easter.