Nunez Could Miss Next Two, Matusiwa Perhaps a Doubt For Saturday and Kipre Banned
Tuesday, 10th Mar 2026 22:51

Marcelino Nunez will miss Saturday’s game at Sheffield Wednesday and also probably the visit by Millwall due to his hamstring injury, while Azor Matusiwa may be a doubt for Saturday and Cedric Kipre is suspended for the next two matches.

Nunez missed tonight’s 3-3 draw at Stoke having suffered the injury in the 1-1 draw at home to Leicester City.

“A hamstring that he picked up in the game on Saturday,” manager Kieran McKenna explained. “So no for this one, no for Saturday and probably no for the one after that as well.”

Matusiwa came off in the 86th minute and McKenna confirmed that was also down to a fitness issue.

“He was struggling with his hamstring,” the Northern Irishman said. “Early to say [whether he’s a doubt for Saturday].”

Matusiwa potentially absent for Saturday’s visit to Hillsborough means the Dutchman would mean he would miss out on a 10th booking before the cut-off when 15 yellow cards lead to a ban having seemed certain to serve a suspension before going 17 games without a caution.

McKenna confirmed that Kipre will be banned for the next two matches, however, having picked up his 10th yellow card this evening, one of those in the abandoned game at Blackburn.

Photo: Matchday Images

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ITFC_1994 added 22:57 - Mar 10

Not getting the rub of the green, are we....

Mehmeti, Nunes and Burns I think are our best 3 behind the striker, as also seems to get the best from Leif. Shame we can't have a run with them 3....

Win the remaining games before the international break have two weeks on the training ground, teach Hirst how to finish, and you never know....

I know we are all deflated but there really isn't much in it... we win tonight and it would have been in our hands. Still lots of football to be played.

Also, why are people acting like promotion is over if we don't get top two? Yes ultimately a failure but we'd be favourites in the playoffs.

Main positive from last two is that we showed character, something we hadn't seen much of this season.

COYB

Radlett_blue added 23:08 - Mar 10 Kipre is a damn fool for picking up 2 bookings for dissent when we're right on the edge of the cut off point.
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Motown added 23:46 - Mar 10 That's harsh Radlett - he's been absolutely stiffed twice. And not sure tonight's booking was for dissent - I thought he did remarkably well to keep his cool in the circumstances. His two game ban is an injustice, simple as that.
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armchaircritic59 added 23:49 - Mar 10

ITFC1994, as you say " ultimately a failure ". Being " favourites in the play off means nothing if you lack a positive metality and have a glass jaw. If Matusiwa is genuinely injured, Nunez is missing ( very poor record when he doesn't start compared to when he does, nearly 1 point per game difference ), Philiogene still out and Kipre suspended and Furlong one booking away from suspension too, things are looking interesting. Is the season about to collapse? I guess we'll find out soon enough.

Granthamblue62 added 00:18 - Mar 11

ITFC1994 well done for remaining positive, but I personally feel we are the worst of the 4 teams occupying the play-off spots. Wrexham would relish the chance to beat us again and Millwall look solid and very impressive. They could legit be a serious contender for top 2. Someone posted a comment on the Stoke game report which I totally agree with - a comment that sums up our season. Shambolic, punctuated by moments of brilliance but ultimately disjointed. Simply put, we are just not good enough for promotion this year.

armchaircritic59 added 00:25 - Mar 11 Granthamblue, sadly it's beginning to look that way. Top class facilities on the way, shed loads of money spent by Championship standards, players with undoubted talent but seemingly having a fragile mentality. Nothing's decided yet, but it's looking more and more like the joke known as the play offs.
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Mariner1974 added 01:57 - Mar 11

What you guys talking about? Have you watched Millwall play? If you want a team that just scores goals from set pieces, throw-ins and corners, then go support them. I'll stick with the roller coaster of Ipswich town, for the moments of sheer class when they do arrive. Other players will have to step up. Greaves back as CB, Jens Cajuste back in the team and able to show his class. We have a squad and McKenna has been rotating them for this reason, so everyone steps up when called upon. I would like my boy Philogene back though now please

johnwarksshorts added 06:15 - Mar 11 Not the news we want to hear at this stage of season or any stage for that matter.
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Jezeroo added 09:17 - Mar 11

@Mariner1974 well said. some people on here are numbskulls, keyboard warriors who have never played the game and should be embarrassed with what they say. Aren't we the only team to double the best team in the league, Coventry? we play most of our games against sides desperate to sit back and hit us on the counter, exactly how we would/should play if we were back in the Premiership against better squads/teams. When we get to show our class we look phenomenal and by far the best in the league, problem is that we do have a few players that aren't good enough and are not of the mentality that is required. It is attitude not ability that defines success

cornishnick added 09:55 - Mar 11 If the 10th booking cut-off is this weekend, surely it would be bonkers playing Matusiwa anyway, especially if he has a tight hamstring. Give him the day off and have him ready for Millwall.
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Linkboy13 added 11:00 - Mar 11 Quite simply we have a team that's capable of beating anyone in this league but also losing to anyone they are the facts whether you like them or not. We will make hard work of hopefully beating Sheffield Wednesday as we did at home but at least we have the excuse of having injuries now.
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jong75 added 14:05 - Mar 11

How many changes did Stoke make last night, and we made them look like Brazil with Pele in the 1st half.
We should be able to beat Sheff Wed Saturday, as long as have 11 players.
Really questioning Kieran currently, watching us is so dull, lets attack teams from the kick off. With the squad we have we should have stormed this bang average league. Anything less than automatic will be a failure in my eyes, would anybody back us in the play offs??

StowTractor added 14:28 - Mar 11

Matusiwa's diplomatic 1 game lack of fitness to protect him from a booking and have him available for sterner tests ahead is sensible, although missing Nunez as an option in the 8 or 10 is a blow.
If I was McKenna then I think Furlong should also pick up a little knock between now and Saturday!!!
Greaves, Johnson, Neil & Cajuste should be fine against Wednesday, rather that than having to miss Matusiwa and Furlong (as well as Kipre) for Millwall and the original 2 against Birmingham as well. Hopefully Greaves can do a job against Millwall too.
We really have no option but to play Mehmeti in the 10 v SW unless McKenna wants to revert to Akpom or try Walle there. Hopefully he will keep his cool and avoid the 10th booking.
Saw pictures of Jaden training with the squad on Monday but last night was obviously a bridge too soon. Hopefully he will be back v Millwall.

StowTractor added 14:38 - Mar 11

Grantham our 2 games against Hull, scoring 3 and conceding zero certainly suggests that we aren't the worst team currently in the top 6. My concern was that they might drop out altogether leaving us to face either Wrexham or Saints in the semi finals. Last night's results putting us in 4th and them in 5th might be a blessing in disguise. If we can continue to be their bogey team then we should finally get a long overdue match at the new Wembley. Wrexham or Millwall on a decent Wembley pitch will be an entirely different kettle of fish to playing them on their own ground. Although we would still need to watch out for either Broady or Femi Azeez.
If Saints sneak into the top 6 and get into the final that would be an entirely different ball game.

jas0999 added 14:56 - Mar 11 Numez certainly picks up lots of injuries …
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PortmanTerrorist added 15:01 - Mar 11 Scummers warned us of Nunez inability to stay fit. Am assuming he has timed this latest spell out just so he can be fit and firing when it comes to playing Naaarich.....and I have a suspicion that if he goes and scores back there he will celebrate...BIG TIME ! lol
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RetroBlue added 17:02 - Mar 11 All coming together then.... couldnt write it...
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armchaircritic59 added 17:58 - Mar 11

Jezeroo, it is both attitude and ability that defines success, not just simply one or the other. You need enough of both. For instance, the double winning side in the Championship season, almost certainly weren't the most talented, but they had enough and any shortfall was made up for by a super abundance of attitude. This squad have lots of ability, but attitude seems somewhat thin on the ground at times. Time to stand up and be counted, it's not all over.

BlueRuin69 added 08:33 - Mar 12 People on here talk such nonsense, oh well like all hys l guess. Exciting end to the season coming up COYB!
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John_Grose added 11:35 - Mar 12 What is the latest on Philogene? This setback seems to be going on for weeks and we could really do with him back for the run in
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johnwarksshorts added 12:21 - Mar 12 Walton Furlong O'Shea. Greaves. Davis Neil. Taylor Burns Memheti Clarke Hirst. For Sheff Wed if Matasiwa not available.
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Jugsy added 15:01 - Mar 12

Linkboy13 - you make me laugh. 'Quite simply we have a team that's capable of beating anyone in this league but also losing to anyone', yep, that's football! Just ask Villa and Liverpool losing to Wolves. One team has been punching above their weight and the other faltering, but both on paper 'should' beat Wolves.

Reality is we will always lose games that we'd be favourites to win, the league is all about winning as much as you can. Those are facts (to coin your phrasing).