Roy McFarland Talks About Tonight

Last updated : 20 February 2007 By Thetashkentterror
Roy McFarland
Spireites manager Roy McFarland spoke to Chesterfield's Official Website about the match against United tonight, his side's 3-0 win at home to Port Vale on Saturday, the loss of Jamie Ward and new signing James Meredith :


" We needed that win and were desperate for it really after our poor form of the last few weeks. We still need to win five or six games to ensure we stay in the division. Jamie (Ward) had a very good home debut and the fans enjoyed what he did. Sadly he's pulled his hamstring and it's in the belly right in the centre of the hamstring. We hope he's a good healer but realistically he will probably be out for six weeks.

" We are already looking outside on top of Jamie Meredith who's arrived from Derby County on loan. He's been with us for a couple of weeks and settled well into the football club. We are looking at players all the time and trying to sign one didn't work out but we will be doing our best to try and bring in another striker.

" I was very pleased with the attitude of the whole squad on Saturday and it was important for us to continue in that vain and we need to show the same commitment to go on and win five or six more games. It will be tough at Carlisle, they have had a good season and they were tough to break down in a good game in the home match at Saltergate. But let's hope we can build on Saturdays result.

" James Meredith goes straight into the squad, Kyle Critchell's trained today and Adam Smith returned to training after a week out. We were worried about Alex Bailey after Saturday but he came in today and trained after returning to the side and doing well. So there will be the one change up front but we will wait and see until closer to the game. Alan O'Hare's progressing, the front of his ankle is sore so we have pulled him back in his recovery programme. But he's progressing and I will expect him to be back into the squad fairly soon. "


As already mentioned the Spireites have new one-month loanee James Meredith available for their defence, with the Australian player likely to feature at left-back. But Jamie Ward, signed from Torquay in the January transfer window, misses the trip as the ex-Aston Villa man faces a six-week lay-off with a hamstring injury, Colin Larkin looking set to replace Ward in the Chesterfield front-line.


The referee for tonight's match is David Foster from Newcastle upon Tyne, and he will be assisted down the lines by Paul Graham from Manchester and Michael Oliver from Ashington in Northumberland. Meanwhile the fourth official will be Chris Brumwell from Penrith.