Harriers boss ready for Fleetwood test

Tuesday 27th October 2009, 8:45AM GMT.

KIDDY 26 DH 5Kidderminster Harriers manager Mark Yates has warned Fleetwood to expect a tougher ride when the two clubs replay with a place in the first round of the FA Cup at stake.

Harriers head to the Lancashire club’s Highbury Stadium tonight after a goalless draw at Aggborough on Saturday in the fourth qualifying round, with the winner set for a trip to League Two Northampton on November 7.

The big-spending Blue Square North club got about their hosts in the first game, who play a league above in the Premier, with Yates conceding his team were second best on the whole.

But the manager believes his players will be ready for them this time.

He said: “We are still in the hat and we go up to Fleetwood with a fighting chance tonight. I have been thinking about Saturday a lot, they came to us and matched us up but whether they will be able to do that again remains to be seen.”

But Yates will have to do without captain Chris McPhee this time, who starts a three-match ban after a red card on Saturday for a hotly-disputed tackle on Jamie McGuire in stoppage time.

His place is likely to be taken by either striker Aaron Farrell or midfielder Dean Bennett, depending on whether the manager opts to go 4-4-2 or 4-5-1 with Matthew Barnes-Homer as a lone striker to nullify Fleetwood’s threat.

The manager has in mind the stall he wishes to set out.

Yates said: “What we need to have is a gameplan, which we are working on, and come the game we will be ready. We are better than what we showed them on Saturday, so if we can get back to our old selves we should be fine.

“But it’s going to be a tough place to go, without a shadow of a doubt.”

Fleetwood manager Micky Mellon, formerly of Albion and Harriers as a player, is anticipating an even bigger test from his visitors this time around.

He said: “Kidderminster showed just how good they can be in what was a high tempo game and I expect the same again tonight.

“They won’t be too pleased about being forced into a replay and I’m sure their manager had a few choice words.”

The home side will hand a late fitness test to top scorer Adam Warlow, who missed the first game through injury.



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