Avenue will have to show defensive Steel (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Avenue will have to show defensive Steel

10:14am Thursday 25th February 2010 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
• Comments(10)

Avenue stretched their lead at the top of the UniBond League Premier Division to five points last weekend and they will be looking for another maximum on Saturday.

However, last weekend's victory, which also boosted their goal difference, was almost a foregone conclusion.

Strolling to a 7-0 win against the basement outfit is not quite the same as hosting Stocksbridge PS.

Bradford boss John Deacey said: "Stocksbridge may be in the bottom half of the table but they were early leaders of the division and are always a very tough side to get a result against.

"I have looked at the league stats and they have scored just two goals less than we have and we are the top scorers.

"They have conceded more and have played two games more than us but they obviously know where the net is."

Avenue and their visitors are the only two clubs to have rattled in 60 or more so far this term. Bradford’s 63 is the best, Stocksbridge are not too far behind but have shipped in 20 more than their hosts. A goalless draw at the Horsfall Stadium is highly unlikely.

Deacey had just 12 fully-fit players for last Saturday’s win at Durham City and a few walking wounded filling the bench out. The situation has not improved, despite them having a free midweek "We might have even less for this game," added the Avenue manager. "We are struggling like mad with injuries.

"Mark Hume went over on his ankle at Durham and it was a bad one, and James Knowles is still out so we are thin on the ground for centre halves.

"Simon Baldry, who should be back, and Martin Drury both had ankle injuries, but Matty James is still very doubtful.

"He couldn’t even make the squad last week so it's fingers crossed because he is a player that other teams find difficult to cope with.

"Brett Renshaw, our new signing from Garforth Town, came off the bench when we lost Hume and he did well.

"The trouble is that we can’t judge him on that game because it was a regulation win against the bottom side. This one is against the second-top scorers so our defence will have to be tight."