Raglan resting but rest of Reds are refreshed and raring for Blyth

FC United will be without centre-back Charlie Raglan for Saturday’s trip to Blyth Spartans but, other than three long-term injuries, the rest of Karl Marginson’s squad is available as the Reds look to record our 12th consecutive league victory.

Raglan must rest for seven days under FA medical rules after sustaining concussion in last weekend’ 2-1 victory over Matlock at Gigg Lane but losing the former Port Vale trainee will not prove too much of a headache for Margy because he has fellow centre-half and last season’s supporters’ player of the season, Adam Jones, waiting in the sidelines.

Margy said: “Adam was superb when he came off the bench last Saturday and he was back to the Adam Jones that we all know and love. Having someone of Adam’s ability come into the team is testament to the quality of the players we have at the club and also to the recruitment that we do. Charlie has been resting and doing some light training and he will be available again for Tuesday."

Everyone at the club was obviously disappointed that Tuesday’s match against Grantham was postponed, which allowed Chorley and Worksop to move back above FC United in the race for the Evo-Stik Premier Division. However, ever the optimist, Margy was focusing on the positive aspects.

“It was actually a good thing. It allowed the players to have a well-earned midweek break. We gave them the night off and then had them back in training on Thursday night. They came back with a new freshness, which is great as we go into the final month of the season.???

FC United have seven games to go. If we win them all, we will be champions and promoted to the Conference North. Simple. But as always, Margy isn’t getting carried away. He said: “We’ll take it one game at a time. It’s a cliché and I wish I could come up with a new one to say but it really is true. We have seven tough games to go and we’ll tackle them one by one.???

The Spartans will almost definitely supply a tough test for Margy’s men. Our hosts will be on top of their game as they are also chasing promotion. The seventh placed Northumbrian club are currently just six points off the play-off places with a game in hand.

The good news is that the two clubs have met three times before and United have won all three encounters but twice there has only been a goal in it as the Reds have fought back from 1-0 down to win 2-1. The reverse fixture at Gigg Lane in November was more one-sided with a 3-0 scoreline. The Reds would be happy with more of the same tomorrow.

Get yourself to that football ground.