Andy Sinton tells AFC Telford: Let's get physical
It could get ugly but Bucks boss Andy Sinton will not care if it isn't a classic as long as his Telford side emerge with all three points from their trip to Alfreton tomorrow.
Sinton has warned his players to expect a gruelling physical encounter when they make the 70-mile trip to the Impact Arena in the Blue Square Bet Premier.
The former England winger believes Nicky Law's uncompromising side represent one of the more awkward away trips in the league.
But he has a game plan in mind and is firmly eyeing a fourth away win of the season.
"It is just an awkward place to go," he said. "You know you are going to have to battle and you are going to fight for every blade of grass.
"You have to go toe-to-toe and I would be very surprised if people go home thinking it was the greatest game in the world.
"It will be scrappy. You have got to pick horses for courses so we might sacrifice a little bit of flair.
"We will go with what we think is the right team and it might not be the best on paper because we have got to stand toe-to-toe with Alfreton and dig it out and earn the right to play."
Sinton's team sheet may well be dictated almost as much by injuries as the opposition tomorrow.
Midfielder Nathan Rooney (bruised metatarsal), defender Will Salmon (ankle) and striker Darren Byfield (hamstring) are all unlikely to play any part in the game.
With Michael Briscoe (back) needing an operation, Jay Smith sidelined with a torn abductor and Chris Blackburn still struggling with a back injury, it leaves Telford yet again light on options going into the game.
Centre-back Jordan Rose though is expected to overcome a niggling ankle injury to make the squad.
Having made a stronger than expected start to the campaign though, Sinton has this week spoken of the importance of freshening up his squad, particularly as a handful of his available players – Chris Sharp, Joe Collister, Jake Reid and Tom Roberts – are short on match practice.
Sinton has made tentative inquiries about taking two players on loan this week but his efforts have so far been rebuffed by their parent clubs
In contrast Nicky Law will be spoilt for choice this weekend as influential midfield man Anton Brown returns to contention after a calf injury.
Law is also expecting striker Anthony Wilson to have shaken off a swollen knee which ruled him out of the 2-0 win over Gateshead in the FA Cup last weekend. But he has the same problem on the bench as his Telford counterpart.
"The majority of our substitutes have been on the bench for some time so at some stage we might have to look to get some of them out for no other reason than to get them some game time," confirmed Law.
