Notts County v Hartlepool preview
Last Updated: August 20, 2012 4:21pm
Arquin: Suspended for County
Team news for Tuesday night's League One clash between Notts County and Hartlepool at Meadow Lane.
Yoann Arquin will be suspended when Notts County get their home campaign under way.
Summer signing Arquin scored the winning goal on his debut at Crewe on Saturday but was then sent off two minutes later for violent conduct after lashing out at Alex captain Ashley Westwood. The French striker begins a three-match ban.
Another setback from Gresty Road saw Tom Williams limp off after only 13 minutes.
Notts manager Keith Curle said: "He got two dead legs against Bradford (in the Capital One Cup) so we had to patch him up to get him out there, but he struck the ball and said he felt something."
Williams is a doubt for Tuesday night while fellow defender Manny Smith faces around three months out with the knee injury he sustained against Bradford nine days ago.
Hartlepool defender Peter Hartley is expected to shake off a knock in time.
Hartley hobbled out of Pools' goalless opening-day draw against Swindon in the closing stages and was replaced by teenager Jack Baldwin, but should resume alongside Sam Collins in central defence at Meadow Lane.
Manager Neale Cooper has no new injury or suspension problems for his side's first away league fixture and is unlikely to make too many changes following his players' response following last week's 5-0 rout at Crewe in the Capital One Cup.
James Poole partnered summer signing Steve Howard up front against Swindon, but 17-year-old Luke James replaced him for the final 23 minutes and is pushing for a place in the starting line-up.
Striker Colin Nish and veteran midfielder Ritchie Humphreys have recovered from injury but are likely to start on the bench again.
Goalkeeper Andy Rafferty is still sidelined with a knee injury, but otherwise Cooper has a fully-fit squad to choose from.
Matches
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npower League 1
Table
npower League 1
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Doncaster Rovers | 46 | 84 |
| 2 | Bournemouth | 46 | 83 |
| 3 | Brentford | 46 | 79 |
| 4 | Yeovil Town | 46 | 77 |
| 5 | Sheffield United | 46 | 75 |
| 6 | Swindon Town | 46 | 74 |
| 7 | Leyton Orient | 46 | 71 |
| 8 | Milton Keynes Dons | 46 | 70 |
| 9 | Walsall | 46 | 68 |
| 10 | Crawley Town | 46 | 68 |
| 11 | Tranmere Rovers | 46 | 67 |
| 12 | Notts County | 46 | 65 |
| 13 | Crewe Alexandra | 46 | 64 |
| 14 | Preston North End | 46 | 59 |
| 15 | Coventry City | 46 | 55 |
| 16 | Shrewsbury Town | 46 | 55 |
| 17 | Carlisle United | 46 | 55 |
| 18 | Stevenage | 46 | 54 |
| 19 | Oldham Athletic | 46 | 51 |
| 20 | Colchester United | 46 | 51 |
| 21 | Scunthorpe United | 46 | 48 |
| 22 | Bury | 46 | 41 |
| 23 | Hartlepool United | 46 | 41 |
| 24 | Portsmouth | 46 | 32 |
