Linwood struggling to make the squad

Feb 8 2008 by David Triggs, Chester Chronicle

PAUL Linwood is a major fitness doubt for tomorrow’s Deva Stadium meeting with Accrington.

The Blues defender was taken off in the first half of Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Chesterfield after aggravating a groin injury.

He was unable to train earlier in the week but boss Bobby Williamson was hoping he would return either yesterday or today. If Linwood fails to recover in time, young centre-back Shaun Kelly could be pressed into service alongside Paul Butler.

Laurence Wilson returns to Chester’s squad tomorrow having served a one-match ban but Kevin Ellison still has two games of his suspension to go.

Crocked striker Nathan Lowndes is close to a first-team comeback but he may not be risked against Accrington.

Having fielded a well-drilled defensive line-up at Chesterfield last weekend, Williamson must decide whether to play a more enterprising style of football in front of the home fans.

He said: “It’s food for thought. We have got options now. Laurence Wilson is available for selection, while Richie Partridge was on the bench last week and never managed to get off it. I just felt the lads had done well last week and I wanted to get them though 90 minutes that would hold them in good stead for the next matches coming up.”

The City boss added: “I’ll pick the team I think will get a result on Saturday and we’ll tinker with it as much as we can because we have got a few games coming up.”

Meanwhile, Accrington assistant boss Jimmy Bell is billing tomorrow’s trip to the Deva as “gigantic”.

Stanley are sliding down the League Two table fast having lost five of their last six matches. The only time they avoided defeat during that run was on January 5 when earned a 3-3 home draw with the Blues.

After watching his side lose 2-0 to Wycombe at the Fraser Eagle Stadium last Saturday, Bell said: “We can’t afford many more of them.

“We’ve got an absolutely gigantic game against Chester now. They’re slipping down the league just like ourselves.

“We’ve got to get the fans behind us because we’re in for one hell of a fight now.”

Accrington had expected to welcome Rommy Boco back into their squad tomorrow, but the midfielder from Benin – fresh from representing his country at the African Nations Cup in Ghana – yesterday left the club by mutual consent.

Former Liverpool trainee David Mannix may start in midfield, while defender Mark Roberts could feature despite recently suffering from a thigh problem.

Roberts played one game for Chester while on loan from Crewe Alex two years ago – a 5-0 hammering at Carlisle United.