Guy poised for derby debut

Lewis Guy: Joined Athletic on loan.

LEWIS GUY will come straight into the reckoning for tonight’s big derby clash at Stockport (7.45pm kick-off).

The 24-year-old Doncaster forward, well known to Athletic boss Dave Penney from their time together at the South Yorkshire club, has arrived on a month’s loan and is likely to form a strike partnership with Pawel Abbott at Edgeley Park.

Guy had a short spell on loan with Hartlepool United last season, playing four times without finding the net. His last goal for Rovers was in August, 2008.

But though Guy’s overall career statistics — 24 goals in 192 games — don’t indicate him to be a one-man solution to Athletic’s goalscoring problems, the Cumbrian who started his career with Newcastle United is renowned as a player boasting plenty of pace with a knack of making things happen when on form.

Penney is on the trail of a fifth away win of the campaign against a Stockport side who have won only two matches on home turf this season.

But the Athletic boss is taking nothing for granted and believes that County’s recruitment drive this year has improved them significantly.

“Stockport’s league position is a little bit false at the moment as they have brought a lot of players in and it is effectively a brand new team since January,” said Penney, whose side will rise at least two places to 17th in the Coca-Cola League One table with a win tonight.

“They have got Danny Swailes, Jabo Ibehre, Ritchie Partridge and Jemal Johnson from MK Dons and David Perkins from Colchester is a good little player as well.

“They have fetched in plenty of experience and are a lot different to the side they were before Christmas.

“They have had good results, like beating Wycombe 4-3, so it won’t be easy that is for sure.

“We don’t go settling for the draw. As always, we go to try and win the game.”

Guy’s addition aside, Penney said the squad is unchanged from that which played out a 2-2 home draw with Wycombe on Saturday.

With Keigan Parker the likely candidate to make way for Guy, the only other possible chance is to bring in loan goalkeeper Darryl Flahavan in place of Dean Brill.

Athletic (probable): Flahavan; Lee, Hazell, Gregan, Jacobson; Smalley, Furman, Stephens, Taylor; Guy, Abbott. Subs (from): Brill, Aljofree, Black, Marrow, Whitaker, Eaves, Millar, Parker.




ATHLETIC’S reserves beat Accrington Stanley 4–0 last night thanks to a brace of goals each from Djeny Bembo-Leta and Ryan Brooke.