MATCH PREVIEW: Two demanding fixtures on the road

The Reds squad will spend most of Saturday on the road as they head for Ilkeston and their latest NPL Premier Division encounter.

They still have a few long journeys to complete with Saturday’s 400 miles (plus) round trip one of them.

And after recovering from nine or ten hours in the coach, they face the slightly shorter sortie to Bamber Bridge on Tuesday.

Two important games for the team as they embark on the final third of the league programme.  Over the first third of the season, Reds obtained fifteen points and increased that to eighteen during the winter months.  A similar return throughout February, March and April will conclude a satisfactory season. 

Back in October, we recorded a 2-1 success over Ilkeston thanks to a couple of Steven Rigg goals but they have remained at the top end of the division for most of the campaign, although they have lost a bit of impetus recently.

Reds’ record at the New Manor was very good until last season but that 6-1 thumping on our last visit is a painful reminder of what can happen if you experience a ‘bad day at the office’.

That was the first time we had played on the 3G surface at Ilkeston and six of our final seven away games will be played on similar pitches – the exception being the normal grass at Bamber Bridge.

Mark Fell will rely on the same squad as last week with the four injured players not quite ready to return.

Venue: Microlise New Manor Ground

Postcode: DE7 8JF

Kick-off: 3pm