First up, I'd like to add my name to the growing list (here) of those who wish a full and speedy recovery to Derek Niven. If you could choose only one of our players to be beside you in the trenches, surely we'd all plump for the battling Scot, who will not lack the determination to beat this.
Tuesday's trip to Bradford is a stroll in the park, stood up against the opponent that Derek has at the moment, but he'll no doubt wish us to approach it properly and bring back the points. The match sees the joint-top scorers in the division go head to head, with City's Peter Thorne and our own Jamie Ward on eleven each.
Despite attracting the sort of support that should turn home games into formalities at this level, City have won only half their home games this season, have conceded as many at home as we have and have scored only two more. This points to our having a very good chance of coming away with something from Valley Parade. To do that we'll have to buck a trend that has seen us win only four time there in thirty-two attempts. Three defeats have followed our great 3-2 comeback win on their soil in the 2004-5 season. One of our scorers that day is still with us, but I doubt we'll see Shinner's assured penalty technique again on Tuesday!
Although City come into the game on the back of a good-looking win over Rotherham at Don Valley, manager Stuart McCall has been left to curse inconsistency as his side have failed to impose themselves on some sides this season. Paul McLaren will miss Tuesday's game, having tweaked his groin, and centre-half Tom Clarke is favourite to replace him. Kyle Nix will be pushing for a place after recovering from injury.
A stomach bug, of sorts, has reportedly affected some of our side this week, but it is unclear who has contracted it, and how badly. It is a question of waiting and seeing, with the only obvious absentee being Derek Niven. As is usual, Lee Richardson would not be drawn on the question of changing the side that drew in disappointing fashion on Saturday, and perhaps doesn't want to throw the baby out with the bathwater. Lee reminded Spireites World that "We've had a spell of form that has seen us unbeaten in seven and while I was disappointed on Saturday we've got to be mindful that we haven't been a million miles away from having a fantastic spell of form." He was realistic enough to add that "We need to play better than we did in the second half (against Accrington), that's for sure."
As usual, Spireites World will cover the match in full for those who cannot be there.
