Plymouth V Bradford at Home Park : Match Preview

11 March 2013 16:01
Plymouth V Bradford - view commentary, squad, and statistics of the game live.


Charles worry for Argyle

Plymouth defender Anthony Charles is an injury worry for John Sheridan ahead of the visit of Bradford.

The centre-back, an ever-present since arriving at Home Park in January, had to be substituted in Saturday's 2-1 defeat at Gillingham with a twinge in his groin.

And Charles, who celebrated his 32nd birthday on Monday, will be assessed by the club's medical staff ahead of the first of two back-to-back home games for the side rock-bottom of the Football League.

Striker Gozie Ugwu has returned to parent club Reading after an injury-hit two months in Devon.

Goalkeeper Rene Gilmartin (hamstring), right-back Durrell Berry (knee) and midfielder Jamie Lowry (ankle) have all returned to training but this game may come too soon for the trio.

Meanwhile captain Conor Hourihane was booked for the ninth time this season at Gillingham and a yellow against Bradford would see him miss the Pilgrims' matches against play-off hopefuls Fleetwood and Southend.

Bradford striker Alan Connell is one of several players pushing for recalls.

Connell has not started a league game for Bradford since the home defeat to Rochdale in December but stepped off the substitutes' bench against Aldershot on Saturday to rescue a point by converting a stoppage-time penalty.

Manager Phil Parkinson has no new injury or suspension problems but could be ready to utilise his squad again with another long trip to face Exeter scheduled on Saturday.

Striker Nahki Wells recovered from a dead-leg to start alongside James Hanson at the weekend, while veteran Andy Gray provides Parkinson with another option up front.

Goalkeeper Matt Duke, who has not appeared since the Capital One Cup final defeat to Swansea, is hoping to win back his place from Jon McLaughlin and winger Garry Thompson shook off a rib injury and appeared as a second-half substitute against Aldershot.

Midfielder Nathan Doyle, defender Andrew Davies and winger Kyel Reid are also hoping to return to action.

Source: PA