Wimbledon Team News

By: Rob Sedgwick
Date: 02/11/2001

UNDER FIRE Grimsby manager Lennie Lawrence has intimated recently that he is intending to start playing different teams and formations away from home than he is at Blundell Park.

With a number of players in his small squad still missing through injury, his options however are still limited. After another abject performance on Tuesday night, Lawrence blamed himself for keeping a winning team together, despite a high number of games in recent weeks. "It was my fault and I should have known better than to ask some players to play Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday, Tuesday." said the Town boss.

"They just can't do it and in the future I will rotate the team and try and keep my players fresh. Take Stacey Coldicott for example. I ought to have realised that he couldn't play three games in seven days after being out for six months. It was too much for me to ask of him and that was my mistake. In future I will pick an away team and a home team."

Such is the turmoil in football at the moment, this week has seen speculation that Lawrence will be sacked, while simultaneously being linked to other clubs (chiefly Barnsley) looking to head hunt new appointments for their own departed staff.

There are no midweek games from now until Christmas, with the exception of the cup tie against Arsenal/Man Utd, so Lawrence has a relatively light spell when his squad will be fresher than normal to try and pick up some much needed points. With just one home game this month, however, that could be easier said than done!

The Town boss has a problem yet again in the right back position against Wimbledon. With new signing Alan Neilson out for 2-3 weeks with a calf problem, Macca on the long-term injury list, and Ben Chapman doubtful with a shoulder problem, Lawrence will probably turn to Danny Butterfield. Alternatively he may play Marlon Broomes at right back, and restore Paul Groves in central defence alongside Newcastle's David Beharall.

In midfield Stewart Campbell is available again for selection after an ankle ligament problem caused him to miss the last two games, and gives Lawrence another option. In the forward positions, depending on what formation he plays, at least two of Jevons, Rowan and Allen are expected to feature. With promises of a new look team for away games, however, Lawrence may have one of his "experimental" formations up his sleeve.

Grimsby Town (from) Coyne, Gallimore, Broomes, Beharall, Groves, Butterfield, Pouton, Coldicott, Willems, Campbell, Boulding, Allen, Rowan, Jevons, Chapman, Thompson (C), Bolder, Ford, Raven

Wimbledon fans are planning a protest at the game over their on-and-off relocation plans to Milton Keynes. Wimbledon Independent Supporters Association are organising a march before the match and a sit-in protest afterwards.

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