15th February 2002 

Team News 
Bristol City Top scorer Tony Thorpe is back in the frame for Saturday's match after sitting out last week's game due to hamstring problems, whilst keeper Mike Stowell could challenge Steve Phillips. That's the good news for Danny Wilson, who has defender Matt Hill missing his first league game of the season with a ban, Mark Lever stands by. Lee Matthews (ankle), Tommy Doherty (knee), and Kevin Amankwaah (hamstring) are all set to miss out with continuing injuries.OldhamTalisman midfielder John Sheridan is doubtful for the Ashton Gate showdown, currently under treatment for a knee injury. That could mean a full debut for diminutive Argentinian loan sensation Cristian Calusso, the £2 million rated former Under-23 international already having shown glimpses of his talent as a substitute last week. Matthew Tipton, Ryan Sugden and Philip Salt have all played their last Oldham games after departing this week. More to follow...
 

They Said ItBristol City "We are always confident of winning games at Ashton Gate and this is an important one because we can enhance our own promotion prospects and dent those of a close rival." Danny Wilson Oldham

"You have to play games like these if you are going to win anything. It will certainly show if we are good enough. I like games like these and it may suit us, who knows?" Mick Wadsworth 

Eyres signs new deal 
Midfielder David Eyres has signed an extension to his contract, which will keep him at Boundary Park for another season. Eyres has been one of The Latics' most consistent performers this season and is top scorer with 12 goals. He will be 39 when the new deal is due for renewal. The Latics are also still trying to hammer out personal terms with on-loan Matty Appleby and are waiting for a reply from to 29-year-old midfielder after making him an offer. Appleby, who is being given a free transfer by Barnsley, will complete his month's loan spell after Saturday's game at Bristol City. If pay talks can't be finalised, it is almost certain that he will be offered a second month on loan.

Lever eyes Latics start 
Mark Lever looks set to make his first start since November in tomorrow's home match with Oldham Athletic, after losing his place to Danny Coles. Experienced central defender Lever has been out in the cold since losing his place to the youngster and at one time was thought to be attracting transfer interest from his former club Grimsby Town. But nothing came of that and Lever has been forced to accept a place on the bench since ending last year on the injured list. Now a one-match suspension for Matt Hill and Kevin Amankwaah's continuing hamstring problems have combined to give Lever hope of a fresh chance. Unless Amankwaah makes an unexpected recovery, Lever will line up at the back alongside Louis Carey and Coles, in what will be his first start since the shock FA Cup defeat by Leyton Orient on November 17. City are likely to make one other change, with Tony Thorpe available again after a slight hamstring problem. The 14-goal top scorer looks set to replace Marvin Brown after the teenager made his first league start in the 2-1 defeat at Wycombe Wanderers last Saturday. Meanwhile, Mike Stowell has been back in training this week after a knee injury, but seems unlikely to displace Steve Phillips after some consistent displays by the younger goalkeeper. Tommy Doherty remains under treatment for a knee problem. Oldham arrive at Ashton Gate as one of the Second Division's form teams and Danny Wilson has warned that City face a tough test. Bristol City (probable) Phillips; Carey, Lever, Coles; Murray, Burnell, Tinnion, A.Brown, Bell; Peacock, Thorpe.

New duo set for debuts 
Matthew Tipton and Steve Macauley are set to go straight into the team to face Bristol Rovers tomorrow but Kevin Keen is out with a calf injury. Tipton, signed on Wednesday from Oldham, will take his place in attack alongside Lee Glover and Rickie Lambert as boss David Moss reverts to a 4-3-3 formation. This means out-of-form Kyle Lightbourne will remain on the bench as Moss bids to improve his side's poor goalscoring record. Macauley rejoined Macc on-loan from Crewe yesterday and will come in alongside Darren Tinson at the heart of the defence in place of Dave Ridler. Midfielder Chris Priest is serving the final game of his two-match ban and Moss is likely to play Chris Byrne, loanee David Smith and youngster Danny Whitaker in midfield. The only other change from the side which drew 1-1 at Scunthorpe on Tuesday could be the recall of goalkeeper Lee Martin following the blunder by Steve Wilson which led to Steve Torpey's second-half equaliser. Meanwhile, Keen has missed the last two weeks but could be in contention for Tuesday night's trip to Kidderminster. Macc will be anxious to gain a much-needed victory after taking only one point from their last four games. Bristol Rovers have also struggled this season after being pre-season favourites for the title. However, they have been boosted by the news that injured duo Simon Bryant and Ross Weare are pushing for a place in the first-team after successfully coming through a midweek outing for the reserves.

Smith said: "We have to generate £250,000 to pay the wages for the next ten weeks and then we need £200,000 to get us through a summer with no income. "Then there is the money we have borrowed from the Professional Footballers Association to find. "A lot of people have made money in this town. Are they prepared to watch the local football club die?" Mason feels the club are improving, but claimed a lack of support could be the final nail in the coffin, telling the club's official website: "The club is a gem if anyone wanted to buy it. "We have a nucleus of good young players, an impressive stadium and we hardly have a massive off-the-field staff bleeding the club. In fact we are down to the bare bones. "People say that this isn't a football town but it is. The problem is that too many of them are going to watch Manchester United, (Manchester) City, Bolton, Blackburn Rovers and even Burnley. "But with no Premiership games this weekend, we will hopefully get the financial lift a big crowd can give us."

Initial talks between the club and Bury Metro Council officials failed to secure any public financial help towards the club's future. Smith added: "A town without a league football club dies. "No one talks about Barrow, Gateshead and Accrington any more and it`s imperative that doesn't happen to Bury. "All we can hope is that people in our town feel the same way." Shakers manager Andy Preece warned that extinction would be a tragedy, just as things were looking brighter on the pitch. He said: "The six players we have signed over the past few days show just what a good thing we have down at Gigg Lane. "But there's no doubt about it, the club is in a very precarious position and cannot survive on the 2,500 fans we get." Meanwhile, Bury continue on with affairs on the pitch as youngster David Borley signed a new two-and-a-half year contract at Gigg Lane. The 18-year-old has improved greatly this season, even keeping skipper Paul Reid out of Shakers boss Andy Preece's line-up. e joins Martyn Forrest, Danny Swailes, and Jamie Stuart, who agreed to deals last week.