THE WEEKEND PREVIEWS
FIRST DIVISION: Stoke City v Burnley
Stoke City will have a chance to bounce back from their first defeat of the season when they entertain Burnley, who will be attempting to build on their first victory of the campaign against Crewe. The Clarets may have hit something of a striker crisis as they have sold Gareth Taylor to Nottingham Forest, and Ian Moore is struggling to be fit due to a hip injury.
Lee Roche is also doubtful with a hamstring problem. But Stan Ternent has been raiding some of his Lancashire neighbours and has brought in three loan players. Andy Todd arrives from Blackburn Rovers and the Bolton pair of Delroy Facey and Gareth Farrelly, all three are expected to make their Burnley debuts at The Britannia Stadium. Burnley have no further problems through injury or suspension so will provide a stiff test for Stoke.
Tony Pulis has been chasing Ade Akinbiyi all week and is still confident of landing the striker from Crystal Palace but not in time for Saturday. Kris Commons could be in line for his first league start in a year, due to a knee problem, but the Stoke boss is sweating on the fitness of central defender Wayne Thomas, who has a groin injury. If Thomas fails a late fitness test the Pulis could turn to Clive Clarke as a stand-in centre half.
BEARDO'S VERDICT: I think both teams are quite evenly matched and I think they could cancel each other out. I am going for a draw at 12/5.
SECOND DIVISION: Stockport County v Port Vale
Stockport finally got off the mark with a 2-1 win at Peterborough last weekend and will have their tails up for the visitors for the league leaders Port Vale.
County never had any real luck in the games before they beat Barry Fry's team but they are a decent footballing side and Brian Horton's team will have to be at its best to take anything from Edgeley Park.
Luke Beckett, who plays his last game before a suspension for his sending-off against Tranmere, will be even more of a handful than usual and he will certainly be fired up into giving the visitors' defence a hard time and Shaun Smith, on loan from Hull City, is expected to make his debut in this game.
With Smith and Kevin Ellison on the left flank providing a steady supply for the front men the odds would seem to stack in favour of Carlton Palmer's side, although the County manager hasn't done himself, or his players, any favours with his comments, that 'we'll win this game. I'm not worried at all. We're a better team and will win the game'.
I expect Brian Horton will have that particular quote pinned up in the Vale dressing room, no further team talk necessary.
County welcome back Aaron Wilbraham after he missed the Posh game with a neck injury and Wayne Collins could feature after he recovered from an ankle problem. Vale will be without Michael Cummins as the midfielder has a knee injury. Marc Bridge-Wilkinson stands by to deputise although he has to overcome a knee injury picked up in training. If Bridge-Wilkinson doesn't make it then Brian Horton could turn to Mark Boyd or Neil Briscoe.
BEARDO'S VERDICT: I think Vale, in their present form, could take something from this game but I also think a fired-up Luke Beckett could be the deciding factor so I am going for a home win at odds of 5/4 on.
THIRD DIVISION: Yeovil Town v Swansea City
This should be a cracking game when the newest team in the league host its very first competitive match against pace-setters Swansea City. Both teams are off the back of 4-1 results although Swans boss Brian Flynn will be much happier with his side's impressive success against Mansfield than Gary Johnson will be with his team's capitulation at Macclesfield.
Swansea's dangerman is Lee Trundle, who has hit six goals in his first five games since Flynn took him from Wrexham, where he signed him from non-league in the first place, to The Vetch.
Not such good news in the home camp as Yeovil will be without their leading scorer Kevin Gall. The ex-Newcastle United striker will be leading the line for the Wales Under 21 side against Italy the night before. But Town have been boosted by the arrival of full back Ronnie Bull from Millwall, on a month's loan.
The defender, who goes straight into the Yeovil side will bring much needed, 'tough tackling and aggression to the side', according to manager Gary Johnson.
Swansea welcome back winger Bradley Maylett, who missed the last game through suspension and Richard Jones, on loan from Southampton, is expected to start in midfield. Roberto Martinez, Lenny Johnrose, Karl Connolly and Jonathan Coates are all still unavailable although goalkeeper Brian Murphy is available after midweek international duty with Ireland.
BEARDO'S VERDICT: A tough one for Yeovil in which to arrest their recent slump and although Swansea have won one and lost one of their away games I am going for a second away win. Decent price too, 7/4.
