By J Bateman
December 27 2002

All the previews for Nationwide League Division One for Saturday.

Brighton v Burnley at The Withdean Stadium ko - 15-00

Brighton have a few injury worries ahead of there game Michel Kuipers has pulled a muscle in the last game and might be doubtful , if so he will be replaced by keeper Andy Petterson , also Simon Rodger is rated as doubtful after injurying a toe.

Burnley have a few welcome faces back , Lee Briscoe returns after a two match absence with a groin injury and Graeme Branch is set to overcome a hamstring problem , Burnley will there tails up after there great win at home to Wolves hope to have turned the corner.

One To Watch  Robbie Blake - Burnley

Prediction  Brighton 1 Burnley 1

Crystal Palace v Preston at Selhurst Park ko - 15-00

The injury bill at Selhurst is still expensive with Andy Johnson still out for at least three weeks and Dougie Freedman still long term , but brighter news is the continuing fitness of Ade Akinbiyi , he will possibly still sit it out on the bench but is raring to get back scoring which as seem to have left him since his one season at Wolves in which he scored 20.

Midtable Preston hope for some cheer even before New Year with the news Colin Murdoch and Pawel Abbott could return after absences , Murdoch with a virus and Abbot with hamstring strain , not so good news is Rob Edwards is missing with an ankle injury.

One To Watch  Ade Akinbiyi - C Palace

Prediction  C Palace 2 Preston 0

Gillingham v Wimbledon at Prestfield Stadium ko - 15-00

Gillingham will be without striker Paul Shaw after the player injuried his knee in Saturdays 2-2 at Millwall , Roland Edge (ankle), Mamady Sidibe (hamstring) and Tommy Johnson (broken foot) are still missing for a while yet and Leon Johnson may be starting after impressing from the bench on Boxing Day.

Wimbledon boss Stuart Murdoch may keep an unchanged team despite there bore draw against Watford , good news is that Lionel Morgan might return but only for bench duty .

One To Watch  David Connelly - Wimbledon

Prediction  Gillingham 2 Wimbledon 2

Grimsby v Norwich at Blundell Park ko - 15-00

Bad news for Grimsby after there truimph at Derby , they will miss Adam Pouton due to him being suspended and Tony Gallimore will miss the game due to hamstring trouble.

Norwich will be hoping to turn the corner away from home after a miserable run away from Carrow Road , the Canaries will possibly be with out Darren Kenton who has tweaked his hamstring.

One To Watch  John Oster - Grimsby

Prediction  Grimsby 1 Norwich 0

Ipswich v Walsall at Portman Road ko - 15-00

Ipswich bouyant from there hit and run win at the Walkers Stadium will be missing goalkeeper Andy Marshall who was injured in Saturdays win at Leicester , in comes young Lewis Price as cover for James Pullin , Martin Reuser will possibly return as well after recovering from a knee injury.

The Saddlers have no new injury worries ahead of the tough trip to Portman Road , Walsall will be happy to play on a fine surface for once, the pitch at Bescot is in a terrible state and doesn't help Walsall's style of play and maybe tommorow with a good surface at Ipswich they can once again get back to winning ways.

One To Watch  Darren Ambrose - Ipswich 

Prediction  Ipswich 2 Walsall 1

Nottm For v Portsmouth at The City Ground ko - 17-35

Forest are looking to get back on track after being leapfrogged by Sheffield Utd on Boxing Day , they lost to there bitter rivals Sheffield Wednesday 2-0 , they will be without striker Marlon Harewood who is serving a ban while Des Walker looks doubtful with a thigh injury.

Pompey are battling through there worse period of this campaign but a plus there not losing games , they have drawn the last four games and are looking to break back into song but will find it tough at the City Ground , news in that Paul Merson could miss the game with Gary O Neil likely to take over.

One To Watch  David Johnson - Nottm Forest

Prediction  Nottm For 1 Portsmouth 1 

Reading v Derby at Madeski Stadium ko - 15-00

Reading hope to arrest a slide which has seen them lose the last three games after sseing the Royals unbeaten in the month of November with Alan Pardew picking up the manager of the month gong , Reading have no injury worrys and will play the same team that lost to Coventry 2-0 on Boxing Day.

Derby have a midfield problem with influencal player Rob Lee out picking up a ankle ligament injury against Grimsby , Danny Higginbottom is still out .

One To Watch  Jamie Cureton - Reading

Prediction   Reading 2 Derby 0

Rotherham v Millwall at Millmoor ko - 15-00

Ronnie Moore will recall strikers Darren Byfield and top scorer Alan Lee replacing Mark Robins and Richard Barker, Rob Scott is still out nursing a shoulder problem so Marvin Bryant will once again replace Scott.

Dennis Wise will be missing for the game due to suspension , also out is Mark Phillips with a hamstring problem , David Livermore will replace Wise in midfield , great news for the Lions is the expected return to the 11 of Neil Harris.

One To Watch  Alan Lee - Rotherham

Prediction   Rotherham 3 Millwall 1

Sheff Utd v Coventry at Bramall Lane ko - 15-00

Bad news for the Blades as news of Carl Asaba's absence due to a knock he picked up at Walsall , either Steve Kabba or Paul Peschisolido will fight for Asaba's place upfront , little Michael Tonge could brighten that Asaba blow he will possibly return to the squad after a few games out.

Coventry are looking for there fifth straight win and it will not be easy for them at Bramall Lane , but boss Gary Mcallister is looking on no reshuffles and will send the same side out again.

One To Watch  Ritchie Partridge - Coventry

Prediction  Sheff Utd 2 Coventry 1

Stoke v Sheff Wed  at Brittania Stadium ko - 15-00

A real bargin basement scrap tommorow at The Brittania Stadium could see either team prop Div One up come ten to five , Brynjar Gunnarsson returns to the line up after suspension and Andy Cooke is definetly out with a knee injury.

A catalogue of injurys for manager Chris Turner to worry him before the big fixture , Matthew Hamshaw will be out for upto six weeks with a knee injury , Kevin Pressman will once again be missing after failing to overcome a bruised calf Chris Stringer will once again be between the sticks , new loan signing Lee Bradbury will start will Turner looking for the firepower to get away from the bottom.

One To Watch  Gerald Sibon - Sheff Wed

Prediction  Stoke 0 Sheff Wed 1

Watford v Leicester at Vicarage Road ko - 15-00

Watford are hoping to keep there recent good run up but will be missing Sean Dyche out with a damaged achilles , Gifton Noel Williams looks set to stay on the bench and Wayne Brown the new free transfer capture from Ipswich could figure in the first 11.

After being dealt there first double defeat of Ipswich , the Foxes are hoping that they can keep tracks with Pompey , Callum Davidson could make a possible return and also Matthew Jones, Trevor Benjamin and Junior Lewis could make apperances to the line up , Gerry Taggart is still a doubt as well.

One To Watch  Brian Deane - Leicester

Prediction  Watford 1 Leicester 2

Wolves v Bradford at Molineux ko - 15-00

Wolves boss Dave Jones has a injury worry over Dennis Irwin , the veteran full back didn't reappear in the second half of the dfeat at Burnley and was replaced by Paul Butler , if Irwin doesnt make it there might be a recall for fit again Mo Camara or forgotten man Lee Naylor , another change might see George Ndah replace Kevin Cooper on the right side of midfield , Alex Rae will miss out due to suspension so Colin Cameron will deputise for Rae.

Improving Bradford continue to miss the services of Ashley Ward as he still is recovering from a knee injury , Nicky Laws will have an unchanged side and no fresh worries with his side looking to sneak an unlikely win at Molineux

One To Watch  Mark Kennedy - Wolves

Prediction  Wolves 3 Bradford 1

 

Full Match Previews can be found at --

Brighton IBHA

Burnley The Longsider

Grimsby The Mariner

Ipswich Singing The Blues

Sheff Utd bladesfc.co.uk

Walsall The Saddlers FC

Wolves wolvesfc.co.uk