The Super Reds entertain Cheltenham at Oakwell on Saturday and a win would put us right back in the automatic promotion picture given that the top four in the division all face off against each other.
The question for Collins is should he stick with the same side that beat Carlisle on Tuesday? Obviously if Roberts is fit then he will come straight back in but outfield wise he has a few choices to make.
The ten that started on Tuesday are all in the mix and you can add to that Cole and McCart. With Kane still suspended then I think that is your lot, 12 players competing for 10 outfield positions, it is fair to say the squad depth isn’t good enough for team competing for promotion.
Personally I would probably select the same players as Tuesday. I think another game on the bench followed by a week off could be just what the doctor ordered for Cole. The number of games have caught up with him recently and with Cosgrove and McAtee both playing well on Tuesday then there is no need to bring him straight back in.
I think that he has to stick with Russell, Connell and Phillips. How they line up could be interesting. Will it be a midfield three or a midfield two with Phillips in the forward line or behind two strikers? Whichever way it is, they are the three I want to see on the team sheet. It is not the time to bring in Grant or Benson for that matter.
The other decision is whether to start McCart and move Williams to wing back or leave McCart on the bench. It would probably be slightly harsh on O’Keeffe to be dropped following his recent performances but he isn’t going to start ahead of Williams or Cadden at wing back if Collins does opt to bring in McCart.
The five goals conceded to Lincoln cannot be put on McCart’s shoulders but with him being at the centre of the back three that day then Collins may think that the better option is to leave Williams in the back three until Pines returns?
Cheltenham will be without Jack Shepherd who we kindly loaned to them and the Pines injury makes me feel that it was a mistake to loan Lopata to Port Vale but that is done and the gaffer can only pick from what is available.
My prediction is the same starters as Tuesday and a 2 – 1 reds win after falling behind inside the first 20 minutes.
COYR
