On Saturday the Mighty Whites
play at home against Stockport, who have won away against Gillingham
and at home against Wolves.
Last season we lost away to them in November '99 and beat them
4-1 in March '00 with two goals from Bazza, one from Steve Finnan
and that thunderbolt of a free kick from Bjarne Goldbaek.
Last night Stockport lost at home to Blackpool so if our "league"
squad plays as it has in the first two league matches a home victory
should be assured.
Saturday Aug 26
Barnsley (11) v West Brom (24)
Barnsley boss Dave Bassett has defensive
problems. Carl Regan begins a three-match suspension after he
was sent-off on his league debut against Norwich, while fellow
full-back Darren Barnard has an Achilles problem.
West Brom are hoping to complete
the signing of Ruel Fox in time for the trip to Oakwell.
A protracted transfer wrangle has
developed over the nippy White Hart Lane winger, but Baggies fans
could get their first view of him at Barnsley.
Last season: Barnsley 2 West Brom
2, West Brom 0 Barnsley 2.
Last five league matches: Barnsley
W W L W L, West Brom W D W L L.
Top Scorers: Darren Barnard & Lee
Jones (Barnsley) 1.
Larus Sigurdsson (West Brom) 1.
Match Odds: H 8-15 A 9-2 D 12-5.
Ref: M Ryan
other fixtures
source=Sporting Life
Saturday Aug 26
Blackburn (6) v Norwich (17)
Blackburn's Lee Carsley, last season's
skipper and top scorer, is available again after a three-match
suspension and will be looking for the chance to show manager
Graeme Souness his worth after withdrawing his transfer request.
Souness must also decide whether
to give a debut to French Under-21 striker Kaba Diawara, signed
this week on loan from Paris St Germain until the end of the season.
Norwich's new loan signing Jim Whitley
has moved straight into the Canaries squad and could be in line
for a first-team spot.
Last season: Blackburn 1 Norwich
1, Norwich 0 Blackburn 2.
Last five league matches: Blackburn
D L L W D, Norwich L W L L D.
Top Scorers: Nathan Blake (Blackburn)
2.
Match Odds: H 4-9 A 5-1 D 11-4.
Ref: C Foy.
other fixtures
source=Sporting Life
Saturday Aug 26
Bolton (5) v Preston (2)
Defender Mike Whitlow and striker
Michael Ricketts are available after suspensions and will come
into contention for places in the starting line-up - but defender
Simon Charlton and midfielder Paul Warhurst are out injured.
Preston defender Michael Jackson
comes back into the squad after serving a three-game suspension.
But midfielder Sean Gregan must endure
the frustration of watching from the sidelines as he is serving
a ban and defender Ryan Kidd and striker Bjarki Gunnlaugsson are
both still unavailable for selection.
Last season: No corresponding fixture.
Last five league matches: Bolton
W W W D W, Preston L W W W W.
Top Scorers: Gareth Farrelly, Per
Frandsen, Dean Holdsworth, Isaiah Rankin (Bolton) 1.
Jon Macken (Preston) 3.
Match Odds: H 5-6 A 11-4 D 11-5.
Ref: U Rennie.
other fixtures
source=Sporting Life
Saturday Aug 26
Fulham (1) v Stockport (4)
Cottagers boss Jean Tigana rang the
changes for the midweek Worthington Cup clash at Northampton -
but will field a full strength side against Stockport.
Kilner has a batch of injuries hampering
team selection. Midfielder Jarkko Wiss has picked up an ankle
injury, and faces several weeks on the sidelines.
Kilner is also without striker Ian
Lawson (knee), defender Shane Nicholson (toe) and Carlo Nash (hand).
Last season: Fulham 4 Stockport 1,
Stockport 2 Fulham 1.
Last five league matches: Fulham
D L W W W, Stockport W W L W D.
Top Scorers: Louis Saha (Fulham)
2.
Ian Moore (3).
Match Odds: H 4-11 A 6-1 D 3-1.
Ref: P Alcock.
other fixtures
source=Sporting Life
Saturday Aug 26
Grimsby (16) v Sheff Wed (15)
Grimsby caretaker-manager John Cockerill
could be without Tony Gallimore, Wayne Burnett, Peter Handyside,
Richard Smith and Kevin Donovan for his first league game in charge.
Wednesday midfielder Wim Jonk could
be out of action for the next eight weeks with a groin problem.
The Dutchman is waiting on the results of tests which will determine
how long he is sidelined for - but he is almost certainly out
of the trip to Blundell Park.
But better news for manager Paul
Jewell sees midfielders Petter Rudi and Phil O'Donnell back to
full fitness and they could be in contention.
Last season: No corresponding fixture.
Last five league matches: Grimsby
L L D L D, Sheff Wed L D W D L.
Top Scorers: Bradley Allen, Stacy
Coldicott, Steve Livingstone, David Smith (Grimsby) 1.
Andy Booth (Sheff Wed) 2.
Match Odds: H 13-8 A 13-10 D 9-4.
Ref: A Leake.
other fixtures
source=Sporting Life
Saturday Aug 26
Huddersfield (10) v Crystal Palace
(20)
Injury-hit Huddersfield will be forced
to field a weakened team with forward Kevin Gallen, defenders
Steve Jenkins and Kevin Gray and midfielder Chris Beech all out.
But one piece of good news for Bruce
is that striker Martin Smith has shaken off an ankle injury that
sidelined him for last Tuesday's Worthington Cup defeat by Oldham.
Palace manager Alan Smith should
have a full squad, although striker Clinton Morrison is a slight
doubt after taking a knock in the 2-1 midweek victory over Cardiff
in the Worthington Cup.
Last season: Crystal Palace 2 Huddersfield
2, Huddersfield 7 Crystal Palace 1.
Last five league matches: Huddersfield
W L L L W, Crystal Palace L W W L D.
Top Scorers: Martin Smith (Huddersfield)
2.
Mikael Forssell, Clinton Morrison,
Neil Ruddock (Palace) 1.
Match Odds: H 4-6 A 10-3 D 12-5.
Ref: T Jones.
other fixtures
source=Sporting Life
Saturday Aug 26
Nottm Forest (9) v Birmingham
(19)
New loan signing Robbie Blake is
poised to make his debut for Nottingham Forest in the City Ground
clash.
Blake has joined on a two-month loan
from the Premiership side and the versatile front-man can play
in any of the front positions.
Birmingham will be without striker
Geoff Horsfield, who is likely to be sidelined for another three
weeks by injury, but midfielder Martin O'Connor is available for
selection after coming through 70 minutes of the 5-0 Worthington
Cup win at Southend on Tuesday.
Last season: Birmingham 0 Nottm Forest
1, Nottm Forest 1 Birmingham 0.
Last five league matches: Nottm
Forest D W W W D, Birmingham W L D D L.
Top Scorers: Chris Bart-Williams,
John Olav Hjelde, Alan Rogers (Nottm Forest) 1.
Dele Adebola (Birmingham), Nicky
Eaden, Bryan Hughes, Michael Johnson, Marcelo, Danny Sonner (Birmingham)
1.
Match Odds: H 11-10 A 11-5 D 2-1.
Ref: G Frankland.
other fixtures
source=Sporting Life
Saturday Aug 26
QPR (14) v Crewe (22)
Gavin Peacock is doubtful for QPR
after breaking his nose in midweek, but manager Gerry Francis
otherwise hopes to could name an unchanged side - which will mean
Chris Kiwomya keeping his place in the side despite his match-fitness
not being ideal.
Crewe striker Colin Cramb could be
back in contention for a starting place after scoring twice for
the reserves in midweek on his comeback from injury.
Nigerian Efe Sodje and Rob Hulse
should also return to the side for the trip to Loftus Road but
Phil Charnock, Paul Tait and Dave Walton remain sidelined through
injury.
Last season: Crewe 2 QPR 1, QPR 1
Crewe 0.
Last five league matches: QPR D D
W D D, Crewe D L W L D.
Top Scorers: Clarke Carlisle, Chris
Kiwomya (QPR) 1.
Steven Foster, Mark Rivers (Crewe)
1.
Match Odds: H 8-13 A 4-1 D 9-4.
Ref: K Hill.
other fixtures
source=Sporting Life
Saturday Aug 26
Sheff Utd (12) v Tranmere (7)
United have registered assistant
manager Kevin Blackwell as a player to provide cover for goalkeeper
Simon Tracey.
Blackwell, 41, last played a competitive
game two years ago but with reserve keeper Matt Duke sidelined
with a broken nose, he could be added to the squad.
Striker David Kelly faces Rovers
for the first time since leaving Prenton Park in the summer while
utility man Georges Santos is another former Tranmere player who
could feature. Shaun Flynn is the only injury concern for the
visitors after suffering knee and ankle damage in the clash with
Gillingham.
Last season: Sheff Utd 3 Tranmere
1, Tranmere 1 Sheff Utd 3.
Last five league matches: Sheff Utd
D L D W L, Tranmere D W L D W.
Top Scorers: Marcus Bent (Sheff Utd)
3.
Wayne Gill (Tranmere) 2.
Match Odds: H 10-11 A 9-4 D 12-5.
Ref: E Wolstenholme.
other fixtures
source=Sporting Life
Saturday Aug 26
Wimbledon (18) v Watford (3)
John Hartson has handed Wimbledon
a massive boost with the news he is back from suspension and ready
to shoot down Watford this weekend.
Defender Alan Kimble is a slight
doubt with a back injury but manager Terry Burton expects him
to be available, while the fit-again Dean Blackwell may be added
to the squad after shaking off an injury.
Watford striker Tommy Smith could
celebrate his place in the England Under-21 squad by being handed
a start, while Gifton Noel-Williams has hit the comeback trail
with a brace against Wimbledon reserves - but Heidur Helguson
is still unfit.
Last season: No corresponding fixture.
Last five league matches: Wimbledon
L D L D L, Watford L D W W W.
Top Scorers: Neil Cox (Wimbledon)
1.
Dominic Foley, Tommy Smith (Watford)
1.
Match Odds: H 5-4 A 7-4 D 11-5.
Ref: T Parkes.
other fixtures
source=Sporting Life
Saturday Aug 26
Wolverhampton (13) v Burnley (8)
Wolves will be without 21-year-old
striker Michael Branch and 27-year-old French defender Ludovic
Pollet, who are suffering from hamstring and hernia problems respectively.
Andy Payton is looking for a place
in Burnley's starting line-up at Wolves after recovering from
a toe injury.
Payton came off the bench to score
a remarkable second half hat-trick in the midweek Worthington
Cup win over Third Division Hartlepool and could return at the
expense of Phil Gray.
Last season: No corresponding fixture.
Last five league matches: Wolverhampton
W L W D D, Burnley W W W D W.
Top Scorers: Darren Bazeley, Temuri
Ketsbaia (Wolverhampton) 1.
Andy Payton (Burnley) 3.
Match Odds: H 4-5 A 11-4 D 23-10.
Ref: M Jones.
other fixtures
source=Sporting Life