Crewe v Coventry preview
Last Updated: August 31, 2012 12:25pm
Ellis: Hopes to play for Railwaymen
Team news for Saturday's League One clash between Crewe Alexandra and Coventry City at the Alexandra Stadium.
Crewe boss Steve Davis expects Mark Ellis to be fit as they prepare to host managerless Coventry.
The defender was substituted during Tuesday's Capital One Cup defeat at West Ham after a nasty collision with Hammers keeper Stephen Henderson.
Ellis suffered a nasty cut in the clash but resumed training on Thursday morning and should feature against the Sky Blues.
Fellow defender Adam Dugdale is on standby having replaced him in midweek and will deputise again should Ellis be unavailable.
Striker Mathias Pogba is rated as doubtful with a knee injury he suffered in last weekend's 5-1 defeat to Brentford.
But Matt Tootle and Michael West are both available for selection after they came through a midweek friendly with Sheffield Wednesday unscathed.
Meanwhile, Coventry caretaker boss Richard Shaw could well be tempted to keep faith with an unchanged XI for this away fixture.
Following last Sunday's sacking of Andy Thorn, assistant Shaw was temporarily handed the Sky Blues reins alongside Lee Carsley and duly guided the club to a 3-2 Capital One Cup triumph over Birmingham in midweek.
Shaw made two changes for the encounter, with Richard Wood (knee) missing out and fellow defender Kevin Malaga dropping to the bench as summer signing William Edjenguele came in for his debut at centre-half and young Jordan Willis started at full-back.
And Shaw's only change at Gresty Road potentially comes in defence if Wood recovers in time, with Willis okay to start again after cramp forced him off.
Midfielder John Fleck (hamstring), Conor Thomas (ankle) and David Bell (hip) remain unavailable, along with defenders Jordan Clarke (knock) and Nathan Cameron (knee).
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 |
