Preston V Brentford at Deepdale : Match Preview

Published: 03 Feb 2012 - 09:31:19

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Preston V Brentford at Deepdale : Match Preview

Coutts banned for North End

Deposed Preston captain Paul Coutts begins a two-match suspension when Brentford visit Deepdale.

Coutts was sensationally stripped of the North End armband by manager Graham Westley earlier this week, who voiced displeasure at having to talk the midfielder out of handing in a transfer request and his subsequent attitude.

The 23-year-old collected his 10th yellow card of the season in last weekend's defeat at Yeovil and begins his ban having been sent away from the club's Springfield training base by Westley to contemplate his future.

Craig Morgan was sent off in the opening minutes against the Glovers and his absence clears the way for Chris Robertson to make his debut at the heart of the defence following his deadline day move from Torquay, where he could be partnered by Crystal Palace loanee Alex Marrow.

Fellow new arrivals Rhys Murphy and Graham Cummins are also in contention, but the forward duo are most likely to feature from the substitutes' bench.

Midfield pair Andrew Proctor and Adam Barton are doubtful having been absent from training with unspecified knocks this week, while a hamstring injury that curtailed David Gray's participation at Huish Park is expected to rule him out.

Brentford could be unchanged. Boss Uwe Rosler has no new injury worries and is set to stick with the side which thumped Wycombe 5-2 last weekend.

Rosler is still without defender Karleigh Osborne and midfielder Kevin O'Connor.

Osborne, who saw a potential move to Reading break down last week, remains sidelined with a dead leg and skipper O'Connor is continuing his recovery from the foot injury he suffered in November.

Centre-half Dale Bennett, who was not involved against Wycombe, has gone back to parent club Watford following the end of his loan spell. Rosler has said he wants to bring in another defender when the loan window reopens next week.

Preston V Brentford - view commentary, squad, and statictics of the game live.