The chance to meet Premiership opposition in Round 3 is the prospect for the winners and United will be keen to put behind them the damaging defeat at York last week. Manager Paul Simpson will be without both Kevin Gray and Peter Murphy because of injury and suspension. Chris Billy takes the captain's armband again, with Gray hoping to be back in time for the Christmas and New Year games. Murphy begins a three-match suspension for his sending off at Bootham Crescent. Carlos Roca is the man most likely to step into Murphy's shoes on the left after appearing as a substitute in two of the last three fixtures. The youngster, signed from Oldham in the summer, has been out of the side for some weeks through injury but now looks set to stake a claim to the left midfield slot with Murphy missing. Paul Simpson has returned to action in the reserves but admits he is still some way from being ready for first-team action. Thus it is unlikely he will even be featuring on the bench tomorrow. The Bournemouth pair of James Hayter and Steve Fletcher will be the ones to stop tomorrow. A heavy responsibility will fall on Lee Andrews and Simon Grand because these two are proven goalscorers. Hayter has notched 14 goals this season and has been in prolific form. Hartlepool-born Fletcher, who has been at the club for 12 years, has claimed 75 career goals, but only two so far this season. Both players face late fitness tests so United could find themselves up against a different pairing altogether. Warren Cummings is another doubt for the home side, currently lying 5th in the Coca-Cola League One. Cherries boss Sean O'Driscoll said of United: "They are a league club in all but the division they are in. They are still full time, all their players have played league football and they're doing very well. Any side doing well in any league is full of confidence. There is a carrot dangling for both clubs, but I know their manager Paul Simpson from the Pro Licence and I'm sure his priority will be getting out of the Conference and back into the league." Prediction: Bournemouth 1-0 UNITED |
