Day 198

Our match against Newport County was postponed due to heavy snow on the pitch. It’s now scheduled for two weeks from today.

That means our next game is in three days, against fourth-placed Gateshead. That could be a tough one.

The good news about these delays is that it grants us more matches with Shuker available. I’d put him 70-30 to be fit to start in the rescheduled Newport game, which would mean he misses only three matches (plus the one he couldn’t finish) during his six-week injury absence.

The bad news is that we’ve been bumped off the top of the table. Mansfield won tonight, putting them one point clear. We have a game in hand, sure, but there’s a psychological advantage for them from now until we make up that game.

Preston youngster Alex Billington joined us on loan today. He’ll be acting as cover for left back John Nutter, should the club captain get injured or suspended. Matthew Park’s loan deal ends tomorrow, so the timing is pretty well perfect.