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McAuley Back for Bristol City Trip?
McAuley Back for Bristol City Trip?
Sunday, 12th Apr 2009 20:23

Town boss Jim Magilton will be hoping skipper Gareth McAuley will be able to return from his hamstring injury when the Blues travel to Bristol City on Monday (KO 3pm). Jon Stead and Moritz Volz could also be in line to return to the squad.

McAuley has been sorely missed for the last two games after picking up his injury while on international duty with Northern Ireland. The former Leicester and Lincoln man may well be fit enough to return to his central defensive role.

Volz missed training last week due to a recurrence of his groin injury and missed Saturday's defeat to Doncaster. Stead was also sidelined at the weekend after hurting his back earlier in the week. McAuley seems the most likely of the trio to be involved at Ashton Gate.

Magilton could well make changes throughout his side after another disappointing home performance on Saturday. Tommy Miller could come back into the centre of the midfield, having been left out in recent games.

Kevin Lisbie could be given a recall up front having performed better away from home than at Portman Road this season. Connor Wickham is again likely to play some role having made his debut from the bench on Saturday.

Bristol City boss Gary Johnson has given up on the play-offs now his side are 10 points from sixth place in ninth: "It's still mathematically possible, but I'd say it's nigh-on impossible.

"We'll be looking to finish the last four games strongly - and we're starting now for next year."

City will be without Jamie McAllister and Bradley Orr due to suspension. McAllister was red-carded in Saturday's 3-2 defeat to Nottingham Forest, while Orr received his 10th booking of the season.

Skipper Louis Carey could return after a rib injury, but Liam Fontaine is a doubt after receiving a concussion against Forest.

Gavin Williams is the only former Town player in the Bristol City squad, although boss Gary Johnson started his managerial career in Suffolk at Newmarket Town, while no current Blue has been a Robin.

Town have had the better of Bristol City over the years, winning 24 times, including the only two cup meetings between the sides, losing 17 and drawing on eight occasions.

Earlier this season, the Portman Road game ended 3-1 to the Blues, Pablo Couñago, Jon Walters and a Liam Fontaine own goal winning Town the points after Stern John had put the visitors ahead early on.

Last season at Ashton Gate, City won 2-0 via an early Marvin Elliott strike and a Bradley Orr penalty just after the half hour.

Monday's referee is Anthony Taylor from Greater Manchester, who has shown 82 yellow and four red cards in 34 games so far this season. Taylor has not previously taken control of a Town match.

Likely squad: R Wright, Bialkowski, D Wright, Thatcher, Volz, McAuley, Balkestein, Campo, Bruce, Miller, Norris, Shumulikoski, Garvan, Walters, Dos Santos, Haynes, Lisbie, Couñago, Wickham, Stead.


Photo: Action Images



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