Bury v Portsmouth preview

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Bury’s top scorer Daniel Nardiello will miss their final two fixtures, starting with Portsmouth’s visit to the JD Stadium.

The 31-year-old has scored 12 goals for the Shakes this term but will be unable to add to that tally after being sent off in the defeat against York.

It was the striker’s second dismissal of the campaign, the first picked up when he was at Rotherham, so he must now serve a two-game ban.

Boss David Flitcroft was handed a further blow when fellow forward Danny Rose was recalled from his loan spell by Barnsley this week, meaning Clive Platt, who had a pain-killing injection to play at Bootham Crescent, could partner Hallam Hope in attack.

Portsmouth caretaker boss Andy Awford is set to rotate his squad for the trip to Bury.

Awford made eight changes for Monday’s 1-0 win over Northampton with the likes of Jack Whatmough, Bondz N’Gala and Ryan Taylor given a breather while Danny Hollands and Ricky Holmes started on the bench.

Skipper Ben Chorley missed out after his wife gave birth on Sunday so he could return having recently completed a four-match ban.

Phil Smith is set for a rare run-out in goal as Trevor Carson is on loan from Bury, while Simon Ferry (back), Andy Barcham (thigh) and Ryan Bird (groin) are still out injured.

Bury v Portsmouth preview

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Bury will once again be without centre-back Efe Sodje.

Sodje serves the final game of a two-match ban acquired through his second sending off of the season in last weekend’s FA Cup triumph at Exeter.

That win was followed up by a derby victory over Oldham in midweek and Sodje’s replacement, Mark Hughes, praised the defensive impact of boss Kevin Blackwell since he took over the struggling Shakers last month.

“Everyone knows that we were conceding too many,” Hughes told the Bury Times. “I don’t think it was the fact that people were doing well to score, we were just gifting them goals. Since the manager has come in, he has made us more solid and teams have to work for goals now.”

Young defender Ethan Ebanks-Landell signed from Wolves on Friday on a one-month emergency loan to further boost the defence and is included in the squad.

Andy Bishop (foot) remains an injury doubt, while fellow forward Lenell John-Lewis is a long-term absentee alongside Phil Picken (both knee).

Managerless Portsmouth will be without Scott Allan.

West Brom loanee Allan serves the second game of the three-match ban he received for a red card against Notts County in the FA Cup last weekend.

Fellow midfielder Darel Russell is still not fully fit after a hamstring injury, but he is likely to be on the bench again.

Forward Ashley Harris (ankle) and midfielder Lee Williamson (groin) returned from injuries to face Brentford on Tuesday and came through the 1-0 defeat unscathed.

Striker Luke Rodgers was put up for loan by previous manager Michael Appleton but could get another chance under caretaker boss Guy Whittingham.

Former Pompey hero Whittingham is in temporary charge after Appleton quit to take charge at Blackpool on Wednesday.