Knill gives fringe players a chance

9:00am Tuesday 7th October 2008

ALAN Knill could give opportunities to some of his fringe players in Tuesday night’s Johnstone’s Paint Trophy clash with League One Stockport.

Efe Sodje, Dave Buchanan, Michael Jones and Andy Morrell all picked up knocks in the 3-3 draw with Aldershot at the weekend, and that could open the door for players like Ryan Cresswell, Danny Racchi, Richie Baker and Glynn Hurst to take their place in the starting 11.

And, while Knill says Bury’s League Two campaign takes priority over the cup competitions, he says he will be putting out a team that can compete with Stockport.

“It’s just another game,” said Knill. “The league is obviously the most important thing but we will be putting out a team that we think can win.

“We picked up a few knocks at Aldershot, so we will have to look at that, but it will be a strong team.

“I expect the lads that come into the team to do well. They have been patient and, when you are top of the league and unbeaten, you don’t expect to be in the team so if we have to play some of the other players then I’m sure they are more than capable of competing.”

Bury will be hoping to get over the disappointment of squandering a three-goal lead at Aldershot on Saturday, and Knill added: “We played some really good football and if we continue to do that and cut out the mistakes we will be strong.

“For 60 minutes we were far superior, but a game lasts for 90 minutes and we need to learn that.

“It is a wake-up call. It’s a learner, that you have to continue to do the right things and we have to make sure we mark our men when the ball goes wide.”

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