Matchday Preview - Sat 28 Mar 2014

Ipswich Town v Nottingham Forest

Date: Sat 29 March    Kick-off: 15:00   Ground: Portman Road    Coverage: BBC Radio Suffolk, FANbase website

Cole Skuse faces a race against time to be fit for Saturday as Town search to continue their play-off search as they host fellow play-off contenders Nottingham Forest.

The midfielder picked up a hip injury that kept him out of the Brighton and Derby games.

Elsewhere, David McGoldrick is out until the end of the season with a knee ligament injury.

Danny Collins could start against his former club, with the defender making 13 appearances for the Reds so far this season.

Where they currently stand
Town- 8th / Forest- 7th

Previous Encounters
Forest and Ipswich played out a goalless draw at the City Ground earlier this season. Town have won 19 fixtures (1 cup) compared to Forest's 34 wins (three cup wins), with 15 draws between the sides.

Notts County v Colchester United

Date: Sat 29 March    Kick-off: 15:00   Ground: Meadow Lane    Coverage: BBC Essex, FANbase website

Captain Brian Wilson is back in the fold as Colchester travel to Nottingham to face Notts County.

Brian missed the games against Bristol City and Wolves, but is now back in contention for a return against the improving Magpies.

He is joined in the squad by new arrival Alex Wynter, who signed on loan from Crystal Palace on Thursday afternoon ahead of the loan deadline.

Where they currently stand
Colchester- 17th  / County- 23rd

Previous Encounters
The reverse fixture saw the Magpies run out 4-0 winners in December with Colchester's last victory over the Magpies coming in October 2011 in a 4-2 victory for the U's. Overall, County have won 16 clashes to Colchester's 14, with 7 draws between the sides.

Southend United v Torquay United

Date: Sat 29 March    Kick-off: 15:00   Ground: Roots Hall    Coverage: BBC Essex, FANbase website

Southend United will be looking to make it five unbeaten as relegation-threatened Torquay visit Roots Hall in Southend's Community Day on Saturday.

Barry Corr serves the final game of his ban, Adam Thompson is back in training. Jacob Murphy could make his debut.

Joss Labadie is serving his ten game ban, Shaquile Coulthirst joined from Tottenham Hotspur and could make his debut.

Where they currently stand
Southend- 8th / Torquay- 24th

Previous Encounters
The previous fixture at Torquay saw the Blues defeated narrowly 1-0 in December. The Blues have won 37 games compared to Torquay's 28 in the 93 fixtures between the sides (with 28 draws).

Gateshead v Braintree

Date: Sat 29 March    Kick-off: 15:00   Ground: Gateshead International Stadium   Coverage: FANbase website

Braintree face an important play-off six-pointer fixture on Saturday as they travel to Tyne and Wear to face Gatehead.

The Iron, who will clock up a 5-hour journey to the North, will go into the fixture on the back of their midweek wins over Welling and Nuneaton.

The Essex side currently sit in the play-off positions with defender Dean Wells not ruling out the possibility of a top-five finish.

Wells said: “We’ll play it down because of all the games we’ve got to fit in, but I’ll be honest with you and say, with the boys we’ve got, anything is possible.

Where they currently stand
Gateshead- 4th / Braintree- 5th

Previous Encounters
The two sides will meet for the first time this season, with the game at the Amlin Stadium falling to the poor weather during the winter. The Iron have won 3 Conference fixtures, with three draws between the sides. Gateshead's only win over the Iron came in an FA Trophy replay on penalties in January 2012.

Chelmsford v Havant & Waterlooville

Date: Sat 29 March    Kick-off: 15:00   Ground: Melbourne Stadium    Coverage: Radio Clarets, FANbase website

Chelmsford City will be continuing their fight away from the Skrill South relegation zone as they host Havant and Waterlooville on Saturday.

The Clarets are entering a crucial selection of league fixtures against Boreham Wood and Basingstoke Town who are also fighting for survival, alongside Chelmsford.

The Clarets, who welcome five new players in Nicky Eyre, Marlon Patterson, Richard Avery, Harry Hickford and Jack Paxman, will want to get their form back on track after Bath City halted their progress with a 4-1 victory.

Where they currently stand
Chelmsford- 16th / Havant- 6th

Previous Encounters
The reverse fixture saw the Hawks run out 3-0 winners in November and have a stronger record over the Clarets historically, with eight wins for the Hawks. Chelmsford have won four fixtures, with five draws played out between the sides.

Cheshunt v AFC Sudbury

Date: Sat 29 March    Kick-off: 15:00   Ground: Cheshunt Stadium    Coverage: FANbase website

AFC Sudbury will look to return to winning ways as they travel to Cheshunt in their promotion search.

AFC are winless in eight league games, with their last win against Wroxham in February, but did win their League Cup semi-final fixture against Ware to set up a final at Maidstone.

James Baker will be unavailable for David Batch's side after picking up an ankle injury in the midweek fixture at Heybridge. The injury will keep him out for a number of weeks.

Where they currently stand
Sudbury- 9th / Cheshunt- 17th

Previous Encounters
The two sides have met each season after Sudbury were transferred to the Ryman League in 2010. The reverse fixture saw the two sides play out a 2-2 draw in November at the MEL Group Stadium. Overall, Sudbury and Cheshunt have won two each, and have drawn three times.