ATHLETIC manager Andy Ritchie has called on Mark Allott to rediscover his goalscoring touch for tomorrow's match at Bristol Rovers. Allott has been given the nod ahead of Matthew Tipton and comes into the side in place of suspended striker Craig Dudley. The 22-year-old was dropped last month after finding the net only twice in 13 games — and he couldn't get back in once Dudley hit form. Allott has been Athletic's top scorer for the last two seasons, but Ritchie says he needs to be sharper inside the box. "Mark hasn't been in the best of form in front of goal," the manager said. "That was the reason he was out of the side, and he knows it. "But the rest of his game has been okay and I still think he and Carlo Corazzin are the best we have at holding the ball. "I'm hoping he can get his touch back because it would be healthy for competition if he did. "It's a pity we are without Craig Dudley, but you can't really legislate for suspensions and the fact is we'll just have to get over it."

Though Athletic have looked in better shape recently, they are still in the second division's relegation zone. Ritchie added: "We want to carry on the way we have played in our last three games and, since I took over as manager, we have done well at Bristol Rovers without getting the rewards. "We should have gone two up there last season, but we missed a penalty and ended up losing 3-2. "It's things like that that we need to put right. If we manage to get on top tomorrow, we have to keep hold of our advantage." As well as Dudley, Ritchie will have to compensate for the loss of central defender Mark Hotte. Hotte has a broken hand and is likely to be replaced by Andrew Holt or Paul Jones. It is possible that Scott McNiven will move inside, with Paul Rickers taking over at right-back.

ATHLETIC (from): Kelly, McNiven, Garnett, Holt, Jones, Innes, Adams, Duxbury, Carss, Eyres, Corazzin, Allott, Boshell, Salt, Rickers, Miskelly.

Rovers' top scorer Nathan Ellington will undergo a fitness test, with on-loan Manchester City man Danny Allsopp — who turned down a move to Athletic — standing by to replace him.

ROVERS (from): Culkin, Bignot, Foster, Jones, Foran, Andreasson, Wilson, Walters, Bryant, Hogg, Astafjevs, Ellington, Evans, Allsopp, Cameron, Pethick, Parkin, Ellis.

Continuing rain has put Sunday's FA Youth Cup tie against Crook Town (1pm kick-of) in doubt. News will be available from 9.30am on Sunday on 0161-624 4972.

The Latics out-of-favour striker Mark Allot is set for his first start in six games when The Latics travel to take on Bristol Rovers on Saturday. He seems to be Andy Ritchie's choice to replace the in form Craig Dudley who sits out the game following a one-match ban after his recent sending off. That should mean that Matthew Tipton will again have to settle for a place on the bench with Ritchie forced to make another change at the heart of the defence. Mark Hotte is ruled out with a broken hand and will be missing for a month whilst Paul Rickers has been called up for the first time in eight games after recovering from a badly gashed thigh. He will come in at right back with Scott McNiven switching to Hotte's central defensive role. Ritchie said: "This is another game where we will have to dig in and fight and more importantly we have to start taking our chances. We have been on top in a number of games this season but we have come out with nothing because we haven't been able to hit the back of the net."

Burnley winger Paul Smith is set to prove he is fit and raring to go and get back into the Oldham squad. Smith enjoyed his loan spell at Boundary Park and looked set to stay for a second month while Andy Ritchie weighed up a potential permanent signing.
But he then had a freak accident which left him with a nasty gash in his shin and the loan was cut short. Now he is ready for the stitches to be removed and then he will have the chance to prove that he is fully fit and go back to Boundary Park. Ritchie is keen to bolster his squad and is along-time admirer of the Burnley winger who finds himself behind Lee Briscoe, Paul Cook and Graham Branch in the Turf Moor pecking order

Ian Holloway might actually have some good news on the injury front when he selects his side for tomorrow's home game with Oldham Athletic. After all the problems this season and last, the manager won't be taking anything for granted.
But this morning it looked as though Marcus Bignot and Che Wilson would certainly be available again, while top scorer Nathan Ellington was also on course for a recall. Of course, there is some bad news as well. David Hillier, who limped out of Wednesday night's reserve game against Bristol City with a dead leg, will drop out of the squad just two games after his first appearance of the season. But the return of Bignot and Ellington, in particular, would be a major boost for Holloway ahead of a game he says his side must win.

Bignot, who missed Tuesday night's 2-1 defeat at Colchester with a stomach bug, has been an inspiration at right wing-back since signing from Crewe Alexandra in the summer. And six-goal Ellington, given a cortisone injection in a niggling knee problem this week, provides that vital bit of flair up front to unlock packed visiting defences. The steady Wilson can also expect a place in the side if fit and having all three back would give the Rovers side a much more balanced look. Loan signing Danny Allsop, who missed several good chances at Colchester, may well find himself back on the bench tomorrow. Bignot will replace Mark Walters, who played out of position on Tuesday night, while Wilson could come in as either one of three central defenders or at left wing-back. Holloway accused his players of being too nice after the Colchester game and will be looking for a more ruthless display against Oldham.
Rovers (possible) Culkin; Foster, Foran, Jones; Bignot, Hogg, Bryant, Astafjevs, Wilson; Evans, Ellington. Subs: to be named.

Bristol Rovers v Oldham preview

Bristol Rovers could be strengthened by the return of striker Nathan Ellington and defenders Che Wilson and Marcus Bignot for the clash against struggling Oldham Athletic. Ellington, Rovers' leading scorer this season with six goals, is still having problems with the knee injury he suffered while playing against Bury earlier in the month but he could be fit. Wilson and Bignot have almost made a full recoveries from ankle and virus problems respectively and are likely additions to the Rovers squad. Pirates defender Scott Jones insists his side are confident going into the match despite their inconsistent performances on the pitch recently. He said: "Things are a bit Jekyll and Hyde at the moment but we are raring to go."

Improvement

Oldham are without striker Craig Dudley and midfielder Mark Hotte for their trip south to the Memorial Ground. Dudley is ruled out through suspension and Hotte could be out for a few weeks after breaking a hand. Latics boss Andy Ritchie is hoping his team can build on their recent upturn in form. Ritchie said: "The last three games have been a vast improvement and hopefully we can keep that up. "Bristol Rovers are a good side but we have played well down there in recent seasons without getting a result. We hope maybe this time we can get the result we deserve."

Bristol Evening Post

NATHAN Ellington is optimistic he will overcome the knee injury that has kept him out of the Bristol Rovers side for the last two matches and lead the attack against Oldham tomorrow. And the teenage striker is determined to help solve the Memorial Ground goals shortage that still sees Ian Holloway’s men waiting for their first home win of the League campaign. Rovers have scored more goals away from home than any other side in the Second Division with 17. But they have netted only five in as many home games – and everybody except bottom-of-the-table Oxford United can better that. Ellington is confident he can return to action against the Latics and hopes to build on his six-goal tally. “I’ve had a cortisone injection in my knee and it does seem to have helped quite a bit,” said Ellington, who picked up the injury at Bury earlier this month. “I’ve certainly not felt the discomfort I had before, although I won’t really know how it is until after today’s training session. But I’ll certainly be giving it a go – and I have a feeling we’re going to do all right tomorrow.”

Holloway has already said he feels so many enforced changes in recent weeks has been a major factor in his team’s unpredictable performances. And assistant boss Gary Penrice added: “I just feel that as soon as we get one home win, we’ll be off and running. “The style of game we play has probably made it a bit easier for us to pick up points away from home. But if we go out with a positive attitude tomorrow, I think we’ll be all right. “It has been a difficult few weeks for us because we’ve had to make so many changes from game to game. There’s been no continuity because we’ve been having to patch up the side as we go along, and that doesn’t help anybody’s confidence. “You can look at statistics and they will drive you barmy, but we have only lost once at home so far – and that was against Northampton when we had something like 20 attempts on goal and they had about three. “But I remember a spell we had when Gerry Francis was here and we couldn’t seem to win at home. Suddenly we got our first victory and then couldn’t stop.”

At least Rovers’ injury crisis is now easing with defenders Marcus Bignot and Che Wilson both looking certain to be available, although a return to action for midfielder David Hillier is rated highly unlikely after he damaged a hip late in the midweek reserve game against Bristol City. While Rovers will be looking for their first three-point haul on home soil, Oldham have a different agenda – the Latics have yet to win away in the League.

Western Daily Press

Hillier limps out to leave Rovers rattled

DAVID HILLIER’S hopes of a first team recall for Bristol Rovers tomorrow have been dashed after the midfielder suffered a fresh injury setback. Hillier was substituted during the second half of Tuesday night’s reserve team derby with Bristol City, following a tussle with Tommy Doherty. The tough-tackling City midfielder also hobbled off with a foot problem, which will hamper his chances of breaking into the City side under Danny Wilson. Rovers physio Phil Kite has now had time to assess Hillier’s injury and rates the former Arsenal man as “unlikely to feature” in tomorrow’s home game against Oldham Athletic.

He said: “David received a dead leg and was unable to train today. At the moment, it’s very badly bruised and it’s not looking good for Saturday. “I would say his best chance of playing is a very late fitness test.” This latest injury comes as a further blow for Hillier who has endured a miserable start to the new campaign. Hillier missed the start of the season after having surgery on a knee and then somehow managed to break a toe in the treatment room, just as he was coming close to a comeback. He finally overcame that setback to make his first appearance of the season as a substitute in last Saturday’s 3-1 victory at Swindon and was on the bench at Colchester on Tuesday. Better news for Rovers is that Kite expects both Marcus Bignot and Che Wilson to be fit with striker Nathan Ellington also a strong possibility.