Stoking the fires of relegation

United welcome Stoke City to the Manor tomorrow night in a desparate attempt to look less inept than in their two previous home games. Unfortunately the fates are all swindon supporters and have decreed that the U's only decent defender during those two matches, Garry Monk, has gone back to Southampton. Presumably Kemp's favourite goalkeeper Neil Cutler will retain his place, despite swearing at the Oxford supporters after the Bury game. With Monk returned to cloisters Kemp's options depend on the fitness of other players, although it will probably mean a recall to right back for the out of favour John Robertson, with Jon Richardson moving into the centre of defence alongside Darren Patterson. Alternatively, if Paul Powell is fit enough, he could return to left back allowing Wayne Hatswell to move into his rightful position as a centre-back. Alternatively forgotten man Neil McGowan could return to the left back position or Kemp might fool us all by opting for Jon Shepheard or Sam Ricketts to return to defence.

Another, less likely, option would be for a return to the bad old days of 3-5-2 with Joey Beauchamp and Chris Hackett, in his last game before his suspension, playing as wing backs and with a midfield consisting of Dean Whitehead, Paul Tait and, unfortunately, Matt Murphy. The front line is likely to be Phil Gray and Andy Scott, assuming Scott has recovered from the knock he took at Gigg Lane. One player who almost certainly won't be appearing is Jamie Cook who, whilst with Darlington this week, scored one and made another in his trial reserve match.

Rage Online confidently predicts a 4-1 defeat.

Kemp's not appealling

Well, we know that, but in this instance it refers to Chris Hackett's red card where, despite his rhetoric over Hackett's innocence, David Kemp has decided that nothing is going to make the referee change his mind and so an appeal isn't worth it, which strikes us as somewhat bizarre as it's not the referee who actually hears the appeal. Having seen the incident on TV one has to agree that it was a harsh decision. This means that Hackett will be suspended for three games, having been sent off for violent conduct, of which the third will be United's home clash with swindon.

Wells again

The High Court has confirmed that the initial date for hearing Les Wells' judicial review into the granting of planning permission for the multiplex cinema at Minchery Farm will be April 2nd. Of course it is unlikely that there will be a result on this day and even if there is, and it goes in the City Council's favour, Wells can always resubmit his application, in the same way that Nick Pentith did, until the situation becomes untenable and an out of court settlement is reached or Firoz Kassam decides enough is enough and throws up his hands in despair at the City Council's incompetence and walks away.