Port Vale v Southend preview
Last Updated: March 8, 2013 12:39pm
Doug Loft: Serving suspension
Team news for Saturday's League Two clash between Port Vale and Southend United at Vale Park.
Vale could be without both of their regular full-backs.
With skipper Doug Loft suspended, manager Micky Adams could be forced to make three changes from the team held to a goalless home draw by Bradford on Tuesday night.
Full-backs Richard Duffy and Dan Jones are both doubts ahead of the weekend visit of the Shrimpers having missed training on Thursday.
"We'll give them as long as we possibly can, but both must be doubtful," said Adams.
"Dan looks as though he's tweaked his knee ligament and he did well to through the second half on Tuesday, and Richard has an ankle problem.
"We do have options, but I'd rather my two main full-backs were available. We'll have to assess everybody right up to the last minute."
With Loft beginning a three-match ban following his red card in midweek, Rob Taylor may come into contention to replace Jones. Although Adams could also switch Adam Yates to left-back and move new signing Anthony Griffith to right-back.
Meanwhile, midfielder Ryan Burge has recovered from the virus that saw him miss out against Bradford.'
Shrimpers boss Paul Sturrock does not expect to have any of his injured players back.
Centre-back Mark Phillips (broken toe), left-back Chris Barker (Achilles), midfielder Marc Laird (hamstring) and striker Gavin Tomlin (thigh) had all been hopeful of making a return.
However, Sturrock is wary of rushing the quartet back too soon having already done that this season with a number of players and subsequently seen them ruled out for a longer period.
Midfielder Michael Timlin is sidelined for the remainder of the campaign with a broken leg.
Southend travel to second-placed Vale currently a massive seven points adrift of the play-off spots in eighth, with their hopes of a top-seven finish severely hampered by having taken just five of the last 18 points on offer.
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 |
