Survival in Davies’ mind as duo axed

Apr 19 2008 by Our Correspondent, Liverpool Daily Post

OPERATION Survival continues for Chester City this afternoon, when they face promotion-chasing Wycombe Wanderers at Adams Park.

City realistically need three points to ensure Coca-Cola League Two football next season, but with a number of senior players sidelined manager Simon Davies’s selection options are limited.

Veteran defender Paul Butler and midfielder Tony Dinning are unlikely to play for the club again, after an internal matter that arose last weekend, while winger Ritchie Partridge is ruled out with a hamstring injury.

Davies was reluctant to discuss the incidents involving Butler and Dinning: “Tony and Paul have been relieved of their duties until the end of the season. It’s a disciplinary matter, which we will keep in house and it’s a decision made in the best interests of the club.

“It wasn’t a personal thing from me. It wasn’t a personal attack. It was just for the club and making sure we stay in the division.”

Looking forward to this afternoon’s game against Wycombe Davies said: “I think we will be OK, if we can get about the game and nullify their positive players. They’ve got three or four and McLeish up front who can score a lot of goals.

“If we can stop their better players at what they are good at, we can then try and nick a couple ourselves.

“We will try and get as many points out of the four games left as we can. I would be lying if I said we weren’t looking over our shoulders.

“We have got to make sure we stay a couple of steps ahead of Mansfield and Dagenham.”

Chester’s leading scorer is doubtful for today’s game after picking up a training ground injury this week, but Davies considers he is adequately covered in the striking department.

“John Murphy and the like can step to the fore now and drive the younger boys in the squad.

“It is a good mix in there now, with the younger players and the older players. Together they will fight for the cause and that’s a massive plus for us. They won’t go down and they showed that massively in the second half at Hereford recently.”

Chris Holroyd and Tony Grant return to the squad this afternoon following injury.

CHESTER CITY (from): Danby, Palethorpe, Vaughan, Kelly, Roberts, Linwood, Wilson, Rutherford, Hughes, Sandwith, Grant, Ellison, Rule, Murphy, McManus, Holroyd, Walker.