Woolfenden Skippers as Town Make 10 Changes Sunday, 12th Jan 2025 14:23 Town boss Kieran McKenna makes 10 changes for this afternoon’s FA Cup third-round tie against Bristol Rovers with Luke Woolfenden, who skippers, the only survivor from the 2-2 draw at Fulham a week ago.
Aro Muric returns in goal with new signing Ben Godfrey making his debut at right-back and Conor Townsend his home debut at left-back. Woolfenden, wearing the armband for his hometown club for the first time, is reunited with Cameron Burgess at the heart of the defence.
In midfield, Kalvin Phillips is partnered by Massimo Luongo with Wes Burns, Jack Taylor and Jack Clarke the three behind striker Ali Al-Hamadi. The bench is made up of first-team regulars with Cieran Slicker the sub keeper. George Hirst makes his return to the squad after his knee injury.
League One Rovers make two changes with Connor Taylor and new signing Romaine Sawyers coming in for Jamie Lindsay and one-time Blues loanee Thomas, who are both on the bench.
Ex-Town James Wilson and Grant Ward start, as does former Norwich striker Chris Martin.
Town: Muric, Godfrey, Woolfenden (c), Burgess, Townsend, Phillips, Luongo, Burns, Taylor, J Clarke, Al-Hamadi. Subs: Slicker, Johnson, H Clarke, O'Shea, Morsy, Cajuste, Broadhead, Delap, Hirst.
Bristol Rovers: Griffiths, Sousa, Moore, Wilson, Sinclair (c), Ward, Sotiriou, Sawyers, Taylor, Martin, Forde. Subs: Hall, Senior, Thomas, Hutchinson, McCormick, O’Donkor, Bilongo, Lindsay, Dixon. Referee: Oliver Langford (West Midlands).
TWTD
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Distant_Blue added 14:31 - Jan 12
I'm surprised that no U21's can make the team. Are they allowed to play in the FA Cup if they're not in the main team squad? |  | |
runningout added 14:31 - Jan 12
not as confident as maybe I should be |  | |
Leejames99 added 14:38 - Jan 12
Not overly optimistic after previous years but fingers crossed. It has a Chris Martin or Grant Ward goal all over it. Be good see what Al Hamadi can do against opposition he used to playing. Hope Jack Clarke runs riot. COYB |  | |
PortmanSi added 14:38 - Jan 12
Wolfy as captain feels like, “thanks for your service, now skipper your home club before you leave.” |  | |
TimmyH added 14:45 - Jan 12
Obviously not that special a competition to make all the changes...it will be refreshing if we just breezed through this. |  | |
Linkboy13 added 14:50 - Jan 12
Unfortunately there are no potential first team players in the u21s so it would be pointless playing them if that answers your question Distant Blue. Im one of the die hards who has time to watch them and the standard is not very good. |  | |
SickParrot added 14:51 - Jan 12
A team which, man for man, should be good enough to win on paper. However when you factor in that Lloungo and Townsend have had very little game time this season and there are no established relationships in the side it's far too many changes in my opinion. Let's hope that it works out and that we don't suffer another embarrasing home cup defeat |  | |
scooby added 14:52 - Jan 12
On a slightly different issue is anyone watching the spurs v Tamworth game that is just proving yet again that the officiating is just blatantly favouring the upper level team. So obvious its embarrassing |  | |
Crawfordsboot added 15:04 - Jan 12
I disagree scoops. The ref has had a good game - stayed in the background and generally let the game flow. Not easy to balance expectation of non league and premiership players as to what is and what isn’t a foul. |  | |
Ipswichbusiness added 15:10 - Jan 12
Linkboy13: just the other day I was wondering why it is that when we lend out youngsters for development they go to clubs well down the pyramid, such as Chatham Town and Rochdale. I think that you have answered my question. Very sad for a club which used to be able to produce the likes of Butcher, Osman, Wark, etc. |  | |
Leejames99 added 16:06 - Jan 12
Is the lad Tudor Idowo not any good? Good scoreline, bit of a boring game, I wasn't one to slate Muric and won't but considering he was dropped for Walton I was surprised he done usual back pass straight down middle to a Bristol City player, I don't get it, not even left or right, oh well, they didn't score. I wonder why they aren't really celebrating any goals today. 2nd half hope Slicker gets a chance and Hurst a run out. I'm still not convinced with Al Hamadi as yet and wonder if he is worth so much commercially. COYB |  | |
Distant_Blue added 17:12 - Jan 12
Linkboy13: Thanks for your thoughts. That's a shame to hear when Liverpool can play their youngest ever player and do well and we don't have anyone to do the same. |  | |
Linkboy13 added 17:07 - Jan 13
Yes we are a Premier league club now but our academy is league one. The new owners are investing big money in the club but don't show any or little interest in the decline of the academy. The academy is there to hopefully supply the first team with potential but instead we buy our young talent from the likes of Chelsea and we loan ours out to the likes of Needham market, Leiston, Braintree etc. |  | |
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