Bury V Exeter at Gigg Lane : Match Preview

02 November 2012 15:01
Bury V Exeter - view commentary, squad, and statistics of the game live.


Big issues for Blackwell

Kevin Blackwell has selection problems in attack as Bury prepare to host npower League Two side Exeter in the first round of the FA Cup.

In-form striker Tom Hopper has been denied permission to feature by parent club Leicester, clearing the way for fellow loanee Troy Hewitt to make his debut.

QPR youngster Hewitt is favourite to start up front alongside David Healy as Andy Bishop (foot) joins long-term victim Lenell John-Lewis (knee) on the sidelines.

Wolves defender Matt Doherty is cleared to play, as is winger Dominic Poleon.

But Poleon's Leeds team-mate Zac Thompson is unavailable as he serves the final game of a three-match suspension.

Phil Picken remains on the sidelines - the defender continuing his lengthy rehabilitation from cruciate ligament surgery.

Exeter boss Paul Tisdale admits he has been plotting changes since they were comfortably beaten 3-0 at Cheltenham on Saturday.

The Grecians won just once in October and slipped 15 points behind leaders Gillingham but have a welcome distraction with a third FA Cup trip to Bury in five years this weekend.

"I have been thinking about changes, I was thinking about it from half an hour after Saturday's game," Tisdale told the Express & Echo. "That is how it works as a manager when you have a poor result.

"We have not had a good record in the competition in the last few seasons, but my main motivation is that I would like to start putting some results together to get the wheels turning again."

Influential striker Alan Gow has not started a match for the Grecians since late September but has declared himself fit to start at Gigg Lane.

Winger Elliott Frear has gone on loan to Salisbury City while striker Jamie Reid's loan stay at Dorchester has been extended by three days so he can feature in their cup clash against City's rivals Plymouth.

Source: PA