Barnet v Port Vale preview
Last Updated: February 8, 2013 10:49am
Ricky Holmes: Injury concern for Bees
Team news for Saturday's League Two clash between Barnet and Port Vale at Underhill.
Ricky Holmes is an injury doubt for Barnet.
The striker limped off against Bristol Rovers last Friday night with an ankle problem.
Fellow forward Jake Hyde missed that 2-1 defeat with a groin strain but he should be fit and could step in if Holmes is ruled out.
Otherwise player-boss Edgar Davids can hand a full debut to recent signing Harry Crawford, who scored the Bees' goal after coming on as a substitute.
Midfielder Curtis Weston is also available after sitting out against Rovers through illness.
Strikers Steve Kabba (knee) and Ishmail Kamara (shoulder) are still recovering from long-term injuries and back-up goalkeeper Liam O'Brien is out for eight weeks with a groin injury.
Vale manager Micky Adams will check on veteran trio Darren Purse, Liam Chilvers and Lee Hughes.
Adams has named an unchanged team for the last three games and is keen to do so again.
But for defenders Purse and Chilvers and striker Hughes, all of whom are in their 30's, it would be a third match in the space of a week.
"It definitely helps when you can pick the same team over and over again because everyone is aware of their roles and responsibilities," said Adams.
"But we have to be mindful of the fact we have three players in the team who are over 30. Maybe three games in a week might be a bit too much for them, but we'll assess them up to the game and pick a side accordingly.
"If I feel they've had enough recovery time, and they're right, then I'll pick them again."
Should Adams need to make any changes he has defender Adam Yates, midfielders Chris Shuker, Sam Morsy and Chris Birchall and strikers Calvin Andrew and Ben Williamson ready to come into the starting XI.
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 |
