Swindon v Colchester preview

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Swindon will be missing two first-team regulars through suspension for the clash with Colchester on Friday evening.

The Robins decided against appealing James McEveley’s red card in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy draw with Peterborough so the left-back is currently serving the second match of a four-match ban for his second sending off of the season.

And manager Mark Cooper will also be without midfielder Yaser Kasim who serves the final match of his two-match ban for accumulating 10 yellow cards this season.

But Swindon, buoyed by last weekend’s 3-2 win over Port Vale, have winger Jamie Murphy pushing for a start after the Norwich loanee made his Robins debut as a substitute last time out.

Colchester are not expected to have any new injury or suspension concerns for Friday night’s trip to Swindon.

Due to postponements, the U’s took to the field for the first time in three and a half weeks on Tuesday as they went down 2-0 at Port Vale and now face a quick turnaround for the clash at the County Ground.

Boss Joe Dunne made one change at Vale Park, Ryan Dickson coming in as expected at left-back following Luke Garbutt’s return to parent club Everton.

Gavin Massey returned from a hamstring injury off the bench against Vale while Sanchez Watt and Freddie Sears also got further game time under their belts. Drey Wright (knee) and Josh Thompson (ankle) remain unavailable.

Swindon v Colchester preview

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Swindon will be missing two first-team regulars through suspension for the clash with Colchester on Friday evening.

The Robins decided against appealing James McEveley’s red card in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy draw with Peterborough so the left-back is currently serving the second match of a four-match ban for his second sending off of the season.

And manager Mark Cooper will also be without midfielder Yaser Kasim who serves the final match of his two-match ban for accumulating 10 yellow cards this season.

But Swindon, buoyed by last weekend’s 3-2 win over Port Vale, have winger Jamie Murphy pushing for a start after the Norwich loanee made his Robins debut as a substitute last time out.

Colchester are not expected to have any new injury or suspension concerns for Friday night’s trip to Swindon.

Due to postponements, the U’s took to the field for the first time in three and a half weeks on Tuesday as they went down 2-0 at Port Vale and now face a quick turnaround for the clash at the County Ground.

Boss Joe Dunne made one change at Vale Park, Ryan Dickson coming in as expected at left-back following Luke Garbutt’s return to parent club Everton.

Gavin Massey returned from a hamstring injury off the bench against Vale while Sanchez Watt and Freddie Sears also got further game time under their belts. Drey Wright (knee) and Josh Thompson (ankle) remain unavailable.

Swindon v Colchester preview

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Swindon boss Paolo Di Canio has no fresh injury or suspension concerns.

The Robins are looking to extend their five-game unbeaten run following Saturday’s 1-0 win over Shrewsbury.

Midfield trio Tommy Miller, Gary Roberts and Alan Navarro failed to make the starting XI in that fixture and are pushing for a recall.

Strikers Adam Rooney and Paul Benson are also hoping for inclusion but the Italian will be reluctant to make too many changes.

Town skipper Alan McCormack believes the Robins have held on to last season’s “winning mentality” that helped secure promotion to npower League One.

“The winning mentality from last year is still here this year,” he told BBC Wiltshire. “No matter what Colchester have done before this game, we’ve got to be wary of what they bring. But when you know you can win every game, it gives you so much more belief and enthusiasm to go out and do it.”

Goalkeeper Mark Cousins hopes to be fit for Colchester.

Cousins’ fingers connected with his own crossbar when attempting to tip over Steve Howard’s off-target effort just 12 minutes into Saturday’s 3-1 win over Hartlepool – the club’s first of the season in new boss Joe Dunne’s senior managerial debut.

Cousins subsequently required lengthy treatment having dislocated the top of his index finger, while he needed three stitches at half-time to seal a nasty wound which had also opened up.

However, he is expected to be okay to again play through the pain barrier at the County Ground.

Should he make it then Dunne could well keep faith with an unchanged side following Saturday’s impressive result, in which two-goal matchwinner Jabo Ibehre was handed his debut alongside fellow new loan signings Craig Eastmond and Sanchez Watt.

Swindon v Colchester preview

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Swindon are likely to be without Vincent Pericard for the visit of Colchester as the striker battles to recover from yet another injury.

Pericard has struggled to string a consistent spell of games together since arriving at the County Ground from Carlisle at the start of the year.

His latest setback came shortly before half-time during Tuesday’s Johnstone’s Paint Trophy exit to Brentford when he was substituted nursing a groin problem.

Captain Jonathan Douglas (broken toe) returned to training on Thursday but Saturday’s encounter is also likely to come too soon for him.

Fellow midfielder Simon Ferry, centre-back Andy Frampton (both ankle) and full-back Kevin Amankwaah (knee) will definitely miss out as they continue their respective recoveries.

The Robins desperately need to find some consistency this term but will find the going tough against third-placed Colchester, who have yet to lose on their travels.

Magnus Okuonghae and Ian Henderson are pushing to return to the Colchester squad for the trip to Swindon.

Centre-half Okuonghae has been sidelined for almost a month with an ankle injury but played 45 minutes in a behind-closed-doors friendly this week.

Striker Henderson has also trained this week after missing Saturday’s FA Cup win over Bradford with a knee problem.

Winger Simon Hackney is still out with a back injury, although he is back running and is likely to be loaned out by manager John Ward to get some games once he is fit enough.

Forward Steven Gillespie is also in the treatment room with a thigh problem along with long-termers John-Joe O’Toole and Morten Knudsen (both knee).

Swindon v Colchester preview

admin

Swindon are likely to be without Vincent Pericard for the visit of Colchester as the striker battles to recover from yet another injury.

Pericard has struggled to string a consistent spell of games together since arriving at the County Ground from Carlisle at the start of the year.

His latest setback came shortly before half-time during Tuesday’s Johnstone’s Paint Trophy exit to Brentford when he was substituted nursing a groin problem.

Captain Jonathan Douglas (broken toe) returned to training on Thursday but Saturday’s encounter is also likely to come too soon for him.

Fellow midfielder Simon Ferry, centre-back Andy Frampton (both ankle) and full-back Kevin Amankwaah (knee) will definitely miss out as they continue their respective recoveries.

The Robins desperately need to find some consistency this term but will find the going tough against third-placed Colchester, who have yet to lose on their travels.

Magnus Okuonghae and Ian Henderson are pushing to return to the Colchester squad for the trip to Swindon.

Centre-half Okuonghae has been sidelined for almost a month with an ankle injury but played 45 minutes in a behind-closed-doors friendly this week.

Striker Henderson has also trained this week after missing Saturday’s FA Cup win over Bradford with a knee problem.

Winger Simon Hackney is still out with a back injury, although he is back running and is likely to be loaned out by manager John Ward to get some games once he is fit enough.

Forward Steven Gillespie is also in the treatment room with a thigh problem along with long-termers John-Joe O’Toole and Morten Knudsen (both knee).