It will be a crucial match as the Cumbrians have gone five league games without victory and have slipped back to 3rd place in the table, albeit with three games in hand on the side directly above them, Aldershot Town. A massive clean-up operation masterminded by United owner Fred Story has enabled the club to get back into the flood-damaged stadium that was under eight feet of water on January 8. A state of the art mud-removal machine has sorted out the pitch while pressure cleaning has restored the terracing and seating areas to their former glories. Meanwhile, new changing rooms have been constructed in double-quick time to replace the old ones and portakabins will house admin staff while the rest of the ground floor offices continue to dry out. The famous Brunton blue carpet has had to be ripped out but otherwise, the ground will look very similar to the one that United last played on back on January 2 when they drew 3-3 with Morecambe. It will be at least six months until the whole of the ground is completely repaired but the club will cope with the upheaval of the months ahead as new fixtures and fittings are put in. The Cumbrians warmed up for their return to familiar pastures with a 4-1 drubbing of Barnet last week in the FA Trophy. If they can take that form into the game with Gravesend, they should collect their first 3-point haul since December 18 - a dizzying SEVEN weeks ago. The Kent side have been in serious decline for several months after being amongst the promotion hopefuls in the early weeks of the season. They parted company with manager Andy Ford just a fortnight ago, and the former Republic of Ireland defender Liam Daish was installed this week. Daish will hope to arrest a desperate slump which has seen the Fleet win just once in seventeen attempts - and that a less than inspiring 1-0 win over cellar dwellers and relegation certainties Leigh RMI. Skipper Steve McKimm, who took temporary charge after Ford's resignation, should be back in the side following illness. Justin Skinner, another virus victim, is also expected to return. Former United trialist Roy Essandoh is joint top scorer at the Fleet with six goals. Manager Paul Simpson will almost have a full squad to choose from for the first time in many weeks. Tom Cowan, Brian Shelley and Kevin Henderson are all back from injury while Simon Grand is available after suspension. Kevin Gray will be out for at least another four weeks and Simpson himself remains an unlikely participant. Chris Billy may be missing again but Karl Hawley expects to be fit - giving Simmo a selection headache up front. He will be tempted to stick with the pairing of Craig Farrell and Magno Vieira who each nabbed a brace as United defeated the Bees at Morecambe's Christie Park. Hawley, joint top scorer with departed Andy Preece on 13 goals, could be under pressure for his place, which has been virtually assured all season. Likely line-up (4-4-2): Glennon, Shelley, Livesey, Grand, Cowan, Arnison, Beharall, Lumsdon, Murphy, Farrell, Vieira Subs: Hawley, Murray, Andrews, Tierney, Westwood Prediction: UNITED 2-0 Gravesend |
