Harrison, Kenlock and Pennington Miss Boro Clash Monday, 1st Oct 2018 13:41 Town will be without the injured Ellis Harrison and Myles Kenlock for Tuesday’s home game against Middlesbrough, as well as Matthew Pennington, who is suspended for one match following his red card at Birmingham. Harrison is facing at least a couple of months on the sidelines with a ruptured ankle ligament, while left-back Kenlock suffered a more minor problem last week. “He was due to train but has been out for a jog and isn’t right, so I think it’ll be the same squad with the exception of Matthew Pennington, who will miss out through suspension,” manager Paul Hurst said. Hurst says Emyr Huws (knee), Teddy Bishop (hamstring) and Tom Adeyemi (achilles) are also still not ready for a return: “Emyr and Teddy aren’t fit, Tom’s not fit.” Andre Dozzell is again set to be included in the squad having been an unused sub at Birmingham, his first appearance in a matchday 18 since the opening day of the season. Asked whether he was hoping to get the 19-year-old some minutes in the next few games, he said: “I think that depends on how situations evolve. We just felt that, again depending on how the game was panning out, it might be a good time to get him back involved. “We know he has the quality to perhaps pick that pass and keep the ball for us. It just felt like the right time, but to think he’s going to play 90 minutes, we’re not there yet. But it’s still a boost for him personally and for the lads to get him back in the 18.” Hurst said on Saturday that there were more positives than negatives to be taken from the Birmingham match, despite the Blues having surrendered a two-goal lead. “I think there were,” he reflected. “I haven’t watched all the game back but I’ve watched the first half and I have to say I think we played better than I thought on the day. “After the first five minutes in which we’d started a little nervily and Birmingham started well, we then started to pass the ball, the shape was there. “So I was pleased with what I saw and how I felt on the day wasn’t all negative in the second half, despite the fact we lost the two goals and did have to soak up some pressure. “I still think there were positive elements to the performance, as I alluded to. It’s nice when people maybe not involved directly with us comment and say that we don’t look like a team that hasn’t won a game of football. “Hopefully that won’t last too much longer. It’s hard for me because people always think you’re looking for excuses or trying to deflect things, but that’s not the case. I do feel that the team put on a good performance and showed different characteristics within them." Has he had to remind the players that it was a draw not a defeat on Saturday? “It’s a late start so I haven’t seen too many of them just as yet, but I don’t expect anyone coming in with their bottom lip on the floor, anything like that. “I expect them to come in, ready for training, ready for the next challenge and we know that’s going to be a tough one against a high-flying Middlesbrough team.” Hurst admitted it was difficult to watch the lead slip away in the second half: “You go through a lot of emotions stood on that touchline. They scored the early goal despite us having a few attacks at the start of that second half and then you know you’re going to be put under some pressure, but I didn’t think that we were playing particularly badly. “Again, it’s never easy to do but you have to give the opposition a bit of credit for how they were performing, but I didn’t feel there was too much wrong to make the subs and that’s why I didn’t make them until much later in the game.”
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