Chelmsford v Eastleigh - Preview
Chelmsford City v Eastleigh
Saturday 21st August, K.O. 3:00pm
Eastleigh face a big test tomorrow afternoon as they travel to Essex to face Chelmsford City.
The Clarets, third in the league last season, have picked up six points out of six at the expense of Basingstoke and Woking.
Eastleigh meanwhile, bounced back from the Bishops Stortford opening day defeat by romping to a 4-0 away win at Dorchester on Tuesday night.
On tomorrow's opponents Chelmsford; Spitfires boss Baird said: "They've got big expectations."
"Their downfall last year was that they couldn't get results at home.
"Invariably they get 1,000 up there and they've always had a budget to be challenging."
2009/10 - Results
Eastleigh 3-1 Chelmsford City - 19th September 2009 >> Link
Chelmsford City 2-2 Eastleigh - 6th February 2010 >> Link
Eastleigh 3-1 Chelmsford City - 19th September 2009 >> Link
Chelmsford City 2-2 Eastleigh - 6th February 2010 >> Link
EASTLEIGH:
As of yesterday, Baird was still no clearer whether the injury Staforde Palmer sustained at Dorchester was a recurrence of the cruciate ligament trouble that stopped the striker in his tracks last season.
"Staforde saw the surgeon on Wednesday, but he still doesn't know what the diagnosis is or how long he'll be out for. It's a big blow for us and the lad's very disappointed," said Baird.
Brett Poate was due to train last night and could be back in the squad at Chelmsford City tomorrow if his hamstring holds up.
But news is not so good of the Spitfires' other long-term absentees.
Anthony Riviere is still a month away from fitness and both Peter Adeniyi and Shaun McAuley could face another eight weeks out. Joe Collins is still troubled by a groin problem.
Last two results:
Sat 14th August - Bishop's Stortford (H) BSBS Lost 1-2 >>http://eastleighfc.blogspot.com/2010/08/opening-day-defeat-spitfires-1-2.html Tue 17th August - Dorchester Town (A) BSBS Won 4-0 >>http://eastleighfc.blogspot.com/2010/08/slabber-hat-trick-helps-spitfires-to.html
Next two fixtures:
Mon 23rd August - Maidenhead United (H) Blue Square Bet South
Sat 28th August - Weston-Super-Mare (H) Blue Square Bet South
How the Spitfires lined up last time:
Dorchester Town vs EASTLEIGH - 17/08/2010 Blue Square Bet South (A). Won 4-0.
Matthews, Bottomley, Goodhind, Smith, Jordan (c), Holland, Williams, (Palmer 78) Hendry, Slabber (Brown 71), Gillespie, Graham. (Mason 84). Subs (not used): - Robinson, Barfoot.
CHELMSFORD CITY:
Saturday’s encounter with Eastleigh will be one of his side’s toughest of the season according to Chelmsford City’s Head Coach, Glenn Pennyfather, who is relieved to go into the 3:00pm kick-off with a nearly fully fit squad.
Despite morale-boosting victories over Basingstoke Town [3-2] and Woking [3-0] to open up the campaign, Pennyfather will warn his players they will need to maintain the high standards they’ve set themselves if they are to come away from the fixture with a victory against Ian Baird’s Hampshire challengers at Melbourne Stadium.
“This is going to be hard work,” he explained, with Adam Tann the only player needing a fitness test. “Everybody said about the tough start we had on paper and this is one of the toughest of the six. I know Ian Baird well and his sides don’t give you an inch so it might take a different kind of performance than what we’ve served up so far to beat them.”
Eastleigh started the campaign in a strangely stuttering manner with defeat at home to Bishop’s Stortford though a midweek 4-0 thumping of Dorchester Town restored spirit in the camp, Glenn adding: “They had a disappointing reverse on Saturday but good teams bounce back and they’ll arrive full of confidence after their away win. We have to make sure our house is in order when they get here.”
Young forward Ricky Modeste will return from suspension to become available again for the Clarets and Pennyfather knows it will take every ounce of effort his players have got to secure the points. He said: “They will be very physical so we will have to keep up our tempo and sharpness as we won’t be able to carry any passengers.”
Despite morale-boosting victories over Basingstoke Town [3-2] and Woking [3-0] to open up the campaign, Pennyfather will warn his players they will need to maintain the high standards they’ve set themselves if they are to come away from the fixture with a victory against Ian Baird’s Hampshire challengers at Melbourne Stadium.
“This is going to be hard work,” he explained, with Adam Tann the only player needing a fitness test. “Everybody said about the tough start we had on paper and this is one of the toughest of the six. I know Ian Baird well and his sides don’t give you an inch so it might take a different kind of performance than what we’ve served up so far to beat them.”
Eastleigh started the campaign in a strangely stuttering manner with defeat at home to Bishop’s Stortford though a midweek 4-0 thumping of Dorchester Town restored spirit in the camp, Glenn adding: “They had a disappointing reverse on Saturday but good teams bounce back and they’ll arrive full of confidence after their away win. We have to make sure our house is in order when they get here.”
Young forward Ricky Modeste will return from suspension to become available again for the Clarets and Pennyfather knows it will take every ounce of effort his players have got to secure the points. He said: “They will be very physical so we will have to keep up our tempo and sharpness as we won’t be able to carry any passengers.”
Last two results:
Sat 14th August - Basingstoke Town (A) Blue Square Bet South Won 3-2
Mon 16th August - Woking (H) Blue Square Bet South Won 3-0
Next two fixtures:
Tue 24th August - Welling United (A) Blue Square Bet South
Sat 28th August - Braintree Town (A) Blue Square Bet South
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