After a much-improved display in the televised Cup Tie against Aston Villa, John McGreal will be looking to secure the Super U’s first league points of the season at home to Darren Sarll’s Stevenage Borough.
Last Saturday the U’s were woeful at times, on Wednesday they earned some much-needed plaudits against a very good Villa team. The pitch was superb given the weather conditions and much credit goes to the club for deploying the covers during the day and to David Blacknall for preparing such a good surface which neither team objected to given the conditions.
Now I believe that JM missed a trick in not playing Gilmartin on Wednesday. Walker did not have the best of games at Accrington and he was badly at fault with the first Villa goal. Gilmartin should have played to leave Walker to look after the league programme.
Despite his horrible penalty miss Mandron played well again, but must convert chances into goals. Frankie Kent was unlucky with the own goal and more than redeemed himself with a smart deflection from Kyel Reid’s initial shot. Sammie Szmodics could have taken the game into extra time but for Steer’s excellent fingertip save.
It was good to see the U’s on TV and the £75,000 fee plus decent gate of 6,603 (incl 1,559 Villa) will have swelled the coffers somewhat.
JM is unlikely to make any changes from Wednesday. Kyel Reid was very impressive and more so when played as an out and out winger rather than having to solely play wing back.
Prosser, Eastman, Dickenson and Guthrie will all certainly return to the team in due course and so the problems will mount up for team selection. That debate is for another day however.
Team 3,4,1,2 v Stevenage
Walker
James Kent Kpekawa
Jackson Lapslie Murray Reid
Szmodics
Wright Mandron
Subs:
Gilmartin, Vincent-Young O’Sullivan Slater Kinsella Issa Johnstone
Stevenage too have had their injury problems but Sarll will be welcoming Godden back into the starting XI and he is a dangerous opponent.
The weather is set fair in North Essex which will be a welcome relief for all concerned and will mean that our good home from can continue unabated.
The U’s will need three valuable points tomorrow, with the next three league games involving Luton, Forest Green and Cambridge all looking tough on paper.