Exeter v Northampton preview
Last Updated: March 1, 2013 3:35pm
Mark Molesley: Suspended for Grecians
Team news for Saturday's League Two clash between Exeter City and Northampton Town at St. James' Park.
Exeter will be without suspended midfielder Mark Molesley.
The former Bournemouth man saw red in the 2-0 victory at Port Vale and will now serve a three-match ban.
Fellow attacker Jimmy Keohane missed that impressive result at Vale Park through injury and he is expected to return to contention to face the Cobblers.
But manager Paul Tisdale, linked with the managerial vacancy at Swindon this week, has no fresh injury worries as they look for just their third home win since November 6.
Myles Anderson remains a long-term absentee but goalkeeper Artur Krysiak returned to action against Micky Adams' men.
Victory on Saturday would move the Grecians level on points with Northampton in the race for promotion.
Leading scorer Adebayo Akinfenwa and influential winger Chris Hackett will both be available for Northampton.
Seventeen-goal striker Akinfenwa was substituted at half-time against Bristol Rovers on Tuesday night following a heavy fall on his hip.
Hackett was not in the squad for the 1-0 home win, with manager Aidy Boothroyd resting him to ensure his freshness for the weekend game against the Grecians.
Both were excused from full training on Thursday but will train with the squad on Friday ahead of the journey to the south west.
Joe Widdowson is also available again after serving a two-match suspension and he could line up on the left side of midfield - as he did at Southend and Wimbledon recently - with Lee Collins performing well at left-back.
Boothroyd said: "Two or three months ago I'd have said we can't leave Joe out of the team, but Lee has been rock solid and so there is a decision to make there."
One player who will not be travelling is Manny Oyeleke, who has returned to Brentford following the completion of his loan spell.
The 20-year-old midfielder made just two appearances for the Cobblers, starting the defeat at Rotherham and coming on as a substitute in the win at Southend.
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 |
