Hereford v Gillingham preview
Last Updated: September 16, 2011 12:04pm
Purdie: In contention to play Gills
Team news ahead of Saturday's League Two clash between Hereford United and Gillingham at Edgar Street.
Jamie Pitman will again make a decision on the fitness of Rob Purdie as his Hereford look to reverse their fortunes.
The midfielder has not featured since the 4-0 home defeat to Macclesfield in mid-August due to a thigh injury but has now got training under his belt as he steps up his rehabilitation.
However, it remains to be seen whether he is ready for first-team action.
Defenders Stefan Stam and Benoit Dalibard (both hamstring) and goalkeeper Adam Bartlett (thigh) will not be ready for another couple of weeks.
Pitman has called for a huge improvement from his charges in both penalty areas, insisting Saturday represents "a fresh start - we've got to regroup".
Tuesday's disappointing 2-0 home reverse to Aldershot made it back-to-back defeats for the Bulls and they remain with just one league win to their name this term.
Meanwhile, Frank Nouble could make his debut for an otherwise injury-hit Gillingham, who are also looking to get back to winning ways.
The striker, 19, has completed an initial month-long loan switch from West Ham and is in contention to make his debut at Edgar Street. Skipper Andy Frampton is also set to return from a thigh problem.
Elsewhere, however, midfielder Danny Spiller was substituted in the 77th minute of Tuesday's disappointing 1-0 defeat at 10-man Southend nursing a knock to his ankle and is expected to miss out.
Matt Lawrence was forced off just minutes earlier having suffered concussion, while fellow defender Matt Fish suffered the same fate in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Ipswich on Wednesday afternoon.
Both are now forced to miss out for the mandatory period of seven to 10 days, which provides another problem for manager Andy Hessenthaler with Fish also doubling up as second-choice goalkeeper on the bench, while Paulo Gazzaniga recovers from mumps.
The latest trio join midfielders Jack Payne (knee) and Curtis Weston (thigh) as well as striker Adam Birchall (knee) on the sidelines.
Matches
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npower League 2
Table
npower League 2
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gillingham | 46 | 83 |
| 2 | Rotherham United | 46 | 79 |
| 3 | Port Vale | 46 | 78 |
| 4 | Burton Albion | 46 | 76 |
| 5 | Cheltenham Town | 46 | 75 |
| 6 | Northampton Town | 46 | 73 |
| 7 | Bradford City | 46 | 69 |
| 8 | Chesterfield | 46 | 67 |
| 9 | Oxford United | 46 | 65 |
| 10 | Exeter City | 46 | 64 |
| 11 | Southend United | 46 | 61 |
| 12 | Rochdale | 46 | 61 |
| 13 | Fleetwood Town | 46 | 60 |
| 14 | Bristol Rovers | 46 | 60 |
| 15 | Wycombe Wanderers | 46 | 60 |
| 16 | Morecambe | 46 | 58 |
| 17 | York City | 46 | 55 |
| 18 | Accrington Stanley | 46 | 54 |
| 19 | Torquay United | 46 | 53 |
| 20 | AFC Wimbledon | 46 | 53 |
| 21 | Plymouth Argyle | 46 | 52 |
| 22 | Dagenham & Redbridge | 46 | 51 |
| 23 | Barnet | 46 | 51 |
| 24 | Aldershot Town | 46 | 48 |
