TEAMtalk

Notts Co v Stevenage preview

Tuesday 21-February-2012 17:45

Notts County's new manager Keith Curle may make changes to the side that lost to Hartlepool at the weekend in his first game in charge of the club.

Midfielder Alan Judge is doubtful after being withdrawn after an hour on Saturday. He has been carrying an injury for the last two games and is unlikely to be risked by Curle.

Skipper Neal Bishop also passed a late fitness test on Saturday, but played the full 90 minutes and is expected to be in contention.

Defender Alan Sheehan replaced Jon Harley at Hartlepool and Curle must decide who to start with at full-back, while strikers Jonathan Forte and Cristian Montano, winger Hamza Bencherif, plus defenders Krystian Pearce and Sam Sodje are all pushing for recalls.

Former manager Martin Allen was sacked after Saturday's defeat, which was the Magpies' first in five league matches.

Stevenage manager Gary Smith is expected to select from an unchanged squad.

Smith kept faith with the side that beat Sheffield Wednesday in their last league match for Sunday's goalless FA Cup draw with Tottenham and has no new injury or suspension worries.

Midfielder Chuks Aneke, on loan from Arsenal, comes back into contention after being ineligible to face Spurs, while fellow forwards Don Cowan, Ben May and Craig Reid and midfielders Jennison Myrie-Williams, Stacy Long and defender Phil Edwards are all available.

Smith may consider making a few changes with tough league games against Charlton and Huddersfield looming, plus the fifth-round FA Cup replay with Tottenham.

Stevenage, in sixth place in the table, have been beaten only once in their last 21 matches.