Crewe v Bradford preview
Last Updated: March 19, 2012 1:33pm
Fagan: In contention for Bantams
Team news ahead of Tuesday's League Two clash between Crewe Alexandra and Bradford City at the Alexandra Stadium.
Crewe boss Steve Davis hopes to welcome midfielder Lee Bell back to his squad.
Bell has struggled in recent weeks with a chest infection and missed out on the 2-0 win over leaders Swindon at Gresty Road.
However, he is expected to return to a matchday 16 deprived of the services of Greg Pearson after the striker was recalled by parent club Burton following a loan spell that produced three goals in nine appearances.
Defender Carl Martin (thigh) remains on the sidelines as the Railwaymen step up their play-off push on the back of consecutive wins.
Alex are three points behind Oxford in seventh place having played a game more and Davis insists they must keep churning out victories to stay in the promotion picture.
"A draw isn't good enough at this stage," he said. "We need to be winning games, we know that. We're not in that comfortable a position in relation to the top seven that we can afford to have the odd draw."
Bradford striker Craig Fagan will return to contention and midfielder Lee Bullock hopes to shake off an illness.
Fagan missed Saturday's 1-0 defeat at Aldershot because of a one-match ban while Bullock is expected back after missing out due to a virus.
Striker Chris Dagnall looks set to resume up front after arriving on loan from Barnsley in time to make his debut at the weekend, while manager Phil Parkinson made four other changes.
Club captain Simon Ramsden and midfielder Michael Flynn completed the full 90 minutes after returning from respective hamstring and thigh injuries, Will Atkinson stepped in for Fagan on the right wing and Ricky Ravenhill was back in midfield after suspension.
Parkinson, who has no new injury or suspension problems, could be tempted to make one or two other changes as his side, four points off the relegation zone, look to bounce back from two successive defeats.
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 |
