Rotherham v Northampton preview
Last Updated: February 1, 2013 2:57pm
Claude Davis: Misses out through suspension
Team news for Saturday's League Two clash between Rotherham and Northampton at the New York Stadium.
Rotherham are without Claude Davis for the visit of the Cobblers.
The 33-year-old defender had a Millers debut to forget last week following his switch from Crawley as he was sent off for two yellow cards and gave a penalty away in the shambolic 3-1 defeat to bottom-of-the-table Bristol Rovers.
The veteran will now serve a one-match ban so Kari Arnason will revert to central defence alongside Johnny Mullins.
After that poor showing against Rovers, which followed a similarly disappointing result against Barnet, boss Steve Evans could be tempted to make changes.
Striker Jordan Slew will be hoping for a debut after joining on a youth loan from Blackburn.
Mark Bradley is pushing for a recall at right-back in place of Dale Tonge, Adam Morgan could earn a start in attack and David Noble may be handed a place in midfield.
Defender Craig Morgan (foot) is still 10 days away from fitness, while Scott Shearer (elbow) is the only other occupant of the treatment room.
Striker Roy O'Donovan is expected to be included in the Northampton squad.
O'Donovan, who worked under Cobblers boss Aidy Boothroyd at Coventry, has joined the League Two promotion chasers until the end of the season.
The 27-year-old is one of a handful of options for Boothroyd should he wish to make changes to his starting XI following the midweek defeat to Gillingham.
Fifteen-goal striker Adebayo Akinfenwa is pushing for a recall while full-back John Johnson was also among the substitutes at Priestfield after several weeks out with a knee injury.
The versatile Emmanuel Oyeleke could also make his debut after failing to get off the bench on Tuesday night following his loan arrival from Brentford.
The trip to the New York Stadium is the first of six League Two fixtures facing the Cobblers in February and Boothroyd said: "It is going to be a big month.
"What we've done up to now is good and we would have certainly taken it at the start of the season but it's only the start of February and we've still got 17 games to go."
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 |
