Matchday Preview - Sat 22 Mar 2014

Brighton & Hove Albion v Ipswich


SKYBET CHAMPIONSHIP
Venue: AMEX Stadium   Date: Sat 22nd Mar   Kick-off: 15:00   Coverage: BBC Radio Suffolk, FANbase website

Cole Skuse looks set to miss out for the first time this season when Ipswich meet Brighton.

The ever-present midfielder sustained a leg injury in last weekend's 3-1 defeat to Wigan and has been unable to train this week, joining David McGoldrick (knee) and Anthony Wordsworth (back) on the sidelines.

Town boss Mick McCarthy will, however, be able to call upon Frank Nouble after he overcame the hamstring injury which has kept him out of the last two games.

Ipswich will hope to pick up a win, to improve their play-off hopes.

The reverse fixture saw Town win 2-0 courtesy of a McGoldrick brace in September. Ipswich have won 28 matches (3 in cups) to Brighton's 22 (2 in cups) with 13 draws played out between the two sides.

Colchester v Bristol City


SKYBET LEAGUE ONE
Venue: Weston Homes Community Stadium   Date: Sat 22nd Mar   Kick-off: 15:00   Coverage: BBC Essex, FANbase website

Freddie Sears could miss out again as Colchester host Bristol City.

The former West Ham striker missed the midweek victory over Shrewsbury with a hamstring problem and his fitness will be assessed ahead of kick-off.

Leading goalscorer Jabo Ibehre has returned to action in the last week and the U's will be hoping for a repeat of his match-winning performance on Tuesday.

Changes are unlikely so Craig Eastmond and David Wright may have to settle for a place on the bench once more.

The fixture at Ashton Gate earlier in the season saw a 1-1 draw with a Matt Taylor goal for the U's. Today's hosts have won 13 fixtures (two in cups), compared to 17 City wins (one in league cup), and 12 draws.

Braintree v Aldershot Town


SKRILL PREMIER
Venue: Amlin Stadium   Date: Sat 22nd Mar   Kick-off: 15:00   Coverage: BBC Surrey, FANbase website

Braintree are in action as they host Aldershot Town at the Amlin Stadium.

Aldershot were the winners in the previous meeting, in a 2-1 win for the 10-men of the Shots that day.The Shots have won five meetings to Braintree's only win, which came in the Ryman Premier division back in 2002.


Bath City v Chelmsford


SKRILL PREMIER
Venue: Mayday Trust Park   Date: Sat 22nd Mar   Kick-off: 15:00   Coverage: FANbase website

Chelmsford City will look to push away from Skrill South relegation zone, as they search for a win over promotion-searching Bath City at the Mayday Trust Park.

Mark Hawkes’ Clarets are currently eight points off the relegation zone (prior to Thursday night’s Skrill South fixtures that may affect City’s positioning) after a much-needed 4-1 victory over bottom-of-the-table Dorchester Town in midweek temporarily calmed the nerves of the City faithful.

Bath, who are nicknamed the Romans, are offering a pay-what-you-want system for today's fixture with the Clarets.

The previous fixture between these two sides back in November saw Chelmsford run out 1-0 winners. However, Bath have won 9 fixtures to the Clarets' five, with 3 draws played out between the sides.


AFC Sudbury v Romford


RYMAN DIVISION ONE NORTH
Venue: The MEL Group Stadium   Date: Sat 22nd Mar   Kick-off: 15:00   Coverage: FANbase website

Romford are the visitors to AFC Sudbury's ground as the Yellows search to pick up points to help their push for the play-offs.

The Essex side are in 12th place, while AFC sit in 9th place, nine points behind the Ryman North play-off positions.

AFC Manager David Batch who saw his side slide to a bad defeat at Witham on Tuesday will have to make changes to his side for this game.

Adams and Daniels will be unavailable after picking up injuries in the heavy midweek defeat to Witham.

Some of the Reserves players could be included in today's squad after their fixture away at 1st placed Whitton United was postponed.

The clubs have met on eight occasions in the past in both league and cup games. Overall, the Yellows have won three, to Romford's four (with a single draw). The previous fixture saw AFC run out 2-1 winners in front of a crowd of 116.