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Cool heads

Simon Smedley
14/ 5/2008

COUNTY’S young team will be fearless and firmly in control as they bid to secure a dream Wembley play-off final place at the expense of Wycombe at Edgeley Park on Saturday evening.

The Hatters hold a slight advantage going into the semi-final second leg after Stephen Gleeson’s late wonder goal earned Jim Gannon’s boys a 1-1 draw at Adams Park on Sunday.

A full house is expected for Saturday’s televised 6pm kick-off, with boss Gannon and his players clearly relishing the prospect of finally seeing the Chairboys off.

Gannon told the Express: "There’s no nerves in the camp. In fact to be fair to the lads we’ve been on a fairly even keel throughout the season.

"We’ve talked about mentality, being disciplined and in control, and that will certainly be crucial on Saturday.

"We saw all that at Wycombe last Sunday, while some people were losing their heads.

"We kept our composure, kept playing and stayed in the game, and I expect nothing different this weekend."

Gannon believes that Gleeson’s 82nd minute equaliser on Sunday will have been a huge psychological blow for Wycombe, but County do have a couple of new injuries to contend with this week.

Wycombe were guilty of an over-physical approach at times on Sunday - they picked up five yellow cards - and now defender Michael Raynes has been ruled out for the season with a deep hamstring strain and Dominic Blizzard may miss out on Saturday if his dead leg develops into a muscle strain.

Tommy Rowe will be fit and Liam Dickinson, who was subjected to a number of crude challenges at Adams Park, will be raring to go again this weekend.

Gannon added: "Liam is covered in cuts and bruises, but he’s a durable character. He just shakes challenges off.

"Hopefully seeing him in the starting line-up on Saturday might demoralise the Wycombe centre-halves a little."

Gannon is looking forward to a special day at Edgeley Park on Saturday.

He added: "It’s going to be a fantastic occasion.

"I was so proud to see my team being roared on by our fans at Wycombe on Sunday.

"This weekend there will be thousands more there.

"What an atmosphere it will be. I love it at Edgeley Park, we’re in for one of those unique, special days."

COUNTY are advising fans they will not be able to purchase tickets for Saturday’s promotion crunch against Wycombe Wanderers on the day of the game.

The club are, though, expecting to post ‘Sold Out’ notices well before then and are urging fans who haven’t yet purchased their ticket to do so as soon as possible.

To cater for demand, the Edgeley Park ticket office will be open on Thursday from 8am through to 8pm.

If you can’t make it to Edgeley Park, you can purchase tickets by ringing the booking hotline number, 08456 885799.