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27 Feb
Shambolic Harriers Given A Lesson
Harriers endured a nightmare evening at Doncaster's Belle Vue. Everything that could have gone wrong once the game kicked-off did and Harriers ended up with their equal heaviest defeat of the season, ten players on the field and just one recognised defender in the back four.
The game started badly when after just four minutes they conceded a neeedless corner that led to Mark Albrighton's opening goal. Matt Gadsby was lost to injury midway through the half and in stoppage time Rovers added a controversial second through Gregg Blundell.
Wayne Hatswell didn't come out for the second half as he was suffering from concusssion and Scott Stamps was sent-off two minutes into the second period four his second yellow card - both awarded for fouls on former Harrier JJ Melligan. Ricky Ravenhill added a third to kill the game off. Gregg Blundell and David Mulligan added further goals late on to complete the rout.
26 Feb
Doncaster Rovers Preview
Possibly the toughest test yet awaits Harriers tomorrow evening when, weather permitting, they travel to Belle vue to take on League leaders Doncaster.
The reason that the game is taking place tomorrow evening is to avoid a clash with the race meeting that is scheduled for Doncaster Racecourse across the road from the ground. The weather caused the abandonment of yesterday's racing with the course frozen.
Harriers will be without central defender Craig Hinton who serves a one-match ban after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season in the game against Cheltenham. Abdou Sall is likely to return to the side to cover for him. Mark Yates will go straight into the squad following his return to the club.
Dave Penney, the Rovers manager, will have to make do without the injured trio of Simon Marples, John Doolan and one-time Harriers target Fran Tierney. Marples has a hernia and the others are battling knee injuries.
Earlier in the season Doncaster were the visitors to Aggborough for Jan Molby's first home game folloowing his return to the club, Rovers ran out comfortable winners 2-0 with goals from Greg Blundell and Chris Brown. For all of the previous results between the clubs, click here.
I expect Harriers to line-up as follows (4-5-1): Brock, Gadsby, Stamps, Sall, Hatswell, Keates, Bennett, Yates, Christiansen, Murray, Foster.
The referee will be Graham Laws from Tyne & Wear. So far this season he has had 25 games issuing 73 yellow cards and 6 red. In Division Three those stats are 6 games, 15 yellow and 0 red.
26 Feb
Aggborough TARDIS Springs To Life Again
Yet another ex-Harrier has returned to Aggborough today, former skipper Mark Yates has signed for the rest of the season. Having been made available for loan by Cheltenham a couple of weeks ago he has been training with Harriers for the last few days.
Yesterday he was released from his contract at Whaddon Road and has agreed a deal with Jan Molby that will keep him, initially at least, at Aggborough until the end of the campaign. He will go stright into the squad for tomorrow night's clash at league leaders Doncaster Rovers.
21 Feb
Jacks Booted
Harriers' barren run finally ended with their first win of 2004. Two goals in the second half, the first of the season for both Ian Foster and Jesper Christiansen gave them a comfortable victory over a poor Swansea side.
Early indications were that Harriers' winless streak would stretch to ten games but an horrendous error by Swans keeper Roger Freestone gifted the opening goal to Harriers and the stroke of luck that had been missing for weeks sparked a rush of confidence that transformed the team.
By the time that Christiansen headed in his first goal in Harriers colours, the Reds looked a new team and as if they would score every time that they had the ball. The crucial three points moved them a place further away from the relegation zone - defeat would have left them in it.
20 Feb
Swansea City Preview
The games don't get any easier for Harriers: Swansea City, along with the division's top scorer Lee Trundle, come to Aggborough tomorrow for another crucial clash.
The Harriers squad is down to the bare bones again; of 22 players one os out on loan and six a carrying injuries of one form or another. Graham Ward and Stuart Brock picked up hamstring and hip injuries respectively in the defeat at Southend last weekend, Ward is rated as doubtful for tomorrow. Bo Henriksen has been back to Denmark to rest his groin strain and may make an appearance in the squad but Adam Willis, Lee Jenkins and Kenny Coleman are all unlikely to figure. On the plus side captain Wayne Hatswell returns to the side following his suspension.
Brian Flynn will also have to juggle his players around; striker James Thomas picked up a shin injury playing for the reserves and will not play while Izzy Iriekpen and Jon Coates are likely to miss out with their places being taken by Kris O'Leary and Kevin Nugent.
The Swans, while chasing a place in the play-offs, are not enjoying the best form in the league at the moment having been distracted by the FA Cup. In the league they have yet to win in 2004, their last win came on December 28 - the same day that Harriers last won.
Earlier in the season the sides played out a 0-0 draw at The Vetch which turned out to be Ian Britton's last game in charge while the corresponding fixture at Aggborough last season ended 2-2. Harriers' goals were scored by Sam Shilton and Adie Smith while Swansea's two equalisers came from Lenny Johnrose and Roberto Martinez. For all of the previous results between the clubs, click here.
I expect Harriers to line-up as follows: Brock, Hinton, Stamps, Sall, Hatswell, Murray, Bennett, Rickards, Christiansen, foster, Keates.
The man in the middle will be Nigel Miller from County Durham. So far this season he has had 19 games issuing 48 yellow cards and 4 red. In Division Three those stats are 10 games, 24 yellow and 2 red.
19 Feb
Danny Williams Heads North
After a week of speculation Harriers have today confirmed that Danny Williams has joined Conference side Chester City. At this stage the move is only a loan - one month but with a view to making it permanent.
The fans' favourite has not been in the best of form this season and has not figured in the line-up in the last two games since the arrival of Dean Keates. Harriers boss Jan Molby said, "For the majority of time he has been with Kidderminster he has done very well and he has become a firm favourite with the supporters. But he lost some form recently and he has had a lot on his mind. Not only is this an opportunity for Danny to go back home, it is a chance for him to play some football away from the battling pressure that we are under in the Third Division."
Williams' contract is up at the end of the season, and after the events of last summer when he took a long time to decide to re-sign with Harriers when no other teams showed any interest, it was likely that he would look to try his luck elsewhere again.
14 Feb
St Valentine's Day Massacre
A bad day at the office all round for Harriers as one of their worst performances of the season saw them crash to a 3-0 defeat against relegation rivals Southend at Roots Hall.
A penalty in each half, an own goal and the dismissal of Jan Molby from the touchline added up to an afternoon of misery for Harriers.
Southend took a controversial lead in the opening minutes when they were awarded a penalty that Leon Constantine converted - Molby disagreed with the award and made his feelings known to the officials, referee Tony Bates ordered him to watch the rest of the game from the stand.
Another controversial penalty after the break, awarded when Matt Gadsby handled, allowed Constantine to double the advantage and then Craig Hinton turned the ball into his own net from a Leon Cort cross to complete the misery.
13 Feb
Southend United Preview
Harriers face one of the biggest games of the season tomorrow when they travel to Roots Hall to take on Southend United. The Shrimpers are in the relegation battle also, currently lying just one place above the drop zone.
Captain Wayne Hatswell is the most notable absentee from the side as he sits out the game on a one-game ban. Boss Jan Molby has moved to plug the gap by bringing Abdou Sall back to the club to fill in as neither Kenny coleman or Adam Willis are fit enough yet. There are no new injuries to worry about, however, as everybody got through the midweek clash with Cheltenham unscathed.
Another Harriers old-boy will be involved tomorrow also; Drewe Broughton should be in the United side having picked up some form recently after a long spell without a goal at the start of the season. In midweek he registered his sixth goal of the season in the LDV Vans Trophy game against Colchester, he also blotted his copybook in the same game by being sent-off.
Broughton may not make the starting line-up, however, as Tes Bramble has recovered from injury and may return. Jim Corbett has also shaken an ankle injury off and could form part of the Southend attack. Michael Husbands will be missing, though, as he has a hamstring injury.
When the teams met at Aggborough earlier in the season Harriers gave one of their worst performances of the campaign, losing 2-1 Mark Warren and Tes Bramble scoring the United goals either side of JJ Melligan's strike. The game at Roots Hall last season ended in a 2-0 Harriers win with goals from Sean Flynn and JJ Melligan. For all of the previous results between the clubs, click here.
I expect Harriers to line up as follows: Brock, Gadsby, Stamps, Sall, Hinton, Murray, Bennett, Rickards, Christiansen, Foster, Keates.
Referee for the game is Tony Bates from Stoke. This season he has been in charge of 24 games, issuing 69 yellow cards and 2 red. In Division Three those stats are 7 games, 26 yellow and 1 red.
13 Feb
Deja Vu At Aggborough
Aggborough continues to resemble a time machine as Jan Molby has once more turned back the clock to re-sign another of his former players. Abdou Sall is the latest to return to the club, signing in time to fill in for Wayne Hatswell at the heart of the defence for tomorrow’s trip to Southend.
The tall Senegalese defender has been training with the club for a couple of weeks while on a trip back to the country to visit his brother but is currently without a club. Earlier in the season he played some football in France.
It is believed that the player has signed non-contract forms with the club as at this stage his presence is only required temporarily; Hatswell's suspension is only for one game and injured defenders Kenny coleman and Adam Willis are nearing a return to action.
Molby said, "The favoured option would be to sign him on non-contract terms but we will have to see what his thoughts are on that. He is a free agent and he is registered in this country so we would have no problem with international clearance. The fact he has also played with Stuart Brock, Craig Hinton and Scott Stamps in a Kidderminster defence before would also be a bonus."
10 Feb
Bore Draw In Derby
Harriers' winless run stretched to eight games after a dull goalless draw in the local derby against Cheltenham. After the poor performance against Yeovil at the weekend Harriers showed much more endeavour and played better in general but even the introduction of new faces Dean Keates and Ian Foster could do nothing to make them look threatening in attack.
Jan Molby made a number of changes to the team, Jesper Christiansen, Danny Williams and Rob Betts made way for Keates, Foster and John Williams. Early promise in the game soon gave way to aimless midfield mediocrity with both teams looking very poor.
Keates looked a promising addition to the squad and could form a formidable partnership with Adam Murray in the centre of midfield. One downside for Harriers was Craig Hinton's fifth yellow card of the season, he should miss the game at Doncaster on February 27.
10 Feb
Ian Foster Returns
Jan Molby has sprung another surprise in the transfer market today by bringing Ian Foster back to the club. Foster, who as the leading scorer in Harriers' Championship winning campaign has been brought back to the club on loan for a month in a bid to bolster the toothless attack.
He moved to Chester City in the summer but has not been a regular feature in the first team, playing 20 games and scoring just twice, he has not featured since November 25. It is his pace that is his greatest asset, a fact not lost on Molby who told the Official Website, "Fozzie did a great job during his first stint here and his ability to run at defenders is something we are missing at the moment."
Foster has been given the number 21 shirt recently vacated by Nick Heath while Dean Keates has taken over number 11. Both players will go into the squad for tonight's game with Cheltenham.
9 Feb
Harriers Snare Tiger
Harriers have this evening announced the signing of midfielder Dean Keates from Hull City. The former Walsall man has agreed a contract that will keep him at Aggborough until the end of next season and it is hoped that the move will be completed in time for him to go into the squad to face Cheltenham tomorrow evening.
This will be the second time that Molby has signed Keates, it was the Dane that took him to Hull when he decided to leave his home-town club Walsall two years ago. Speaking to the Official Website, Molby said "He is a player that has got a lot of experience of playing at a higher level and that was one of the reasons we have signed him. He's a tough tackler but has an eye for a pass. He will add bite and creativity to our midfield and that something I think we need at the moment."
Hull manager Peter Taylor was sorry to see the player, who would have been out of contract at the end of the season, leave. He told the Official Hull Site, "I don't really want Dean to go because he is a tremendous professional and a very important figure within the dressing room. He's worked very hard this season and is in the best condition I've seen him in. But I understand that as a footballer he wants to play regular first team football and it looks as though Kidderminster could offer him an opportunity to do that."
The player has not figure in the first team at Hull since the week before Christmas and will probably be lacking in match fitness. He also brings one yellow card with him.
9 Feb
Cheltenham Town Preview
Cheltenham come back to Aggborough tomorrow for the rearranged local derby which takes on even greater significance after back-to-back defeats for Harriers. Jan Molby will have to stick with the same sixteen players that were so poor in Saturday’s defeat at the hands of Yeovil when he tries to lift them for the game.
Wayne Hatswell will be suspended by the weekend but is OK to play tomorrow which is just as well as Harriers have only 16 fit players to chose from. Molby will not have many options for changes, therefore, as he looks for goals from his team: Jesper Christiansen started well on Saturday but faded as the game wore on; the game is likely to be a physical battle which may not suit Scott Rickards and Bo Henriksen can’t buy a goal at the moment. Facing a physical game Molby might revert to 4-4-2 and bring back Sean Parrish into the midfield and play John Williams in attack.
In contrast to Harriers, Cheltenham have won the two games in the period since this game was originally scheduled. A week ago on Saturday they beat Leyton Orient 1-0 and on Saturday they came from behind to win 2-1 at Macclesfield. Manager John Ward is hoping to be able to select Peter Hynes who has been suffering with an ankle injury but Shane Duff is doubtful after picking up a knock at Macclesfield on Saturday.
Cheltenham will be looking to complete a double over Harriers having won the game at Whaddon Road earlier in the season, ominously their last two wins have completed doubles. In that game at the start of the season Danny Williams gave Harriers the lead but Cheltenham hit back with two late goals. For all previous results between the clubs, click here.
I expect Harriers to line-up as follows: Brock, Gadsby, Stamps, Hinton, Hatswell, D. Williams, Bennett, Murray, J. Williams, Christiansen, Parrish.
6 Feb
Two More Players Leave
Harriers' ranks were reduced to just nineteen players today with the departures of Nick Heath and most surprisingly Adie Smith. Following on from last week's departure of Sam Shilton who has now joined up with Burton Albion, Heath has left to seek better first team opportunities elsewhere while Smith has left for personal reasons.
One of the few players left from the reign of Graham Allner Adie Smith moved to Aggborough from Bromsgrove Rovers in the summer of 1997 and went on to play 244 games and score 13 goals. He also represented England at Semi-Professional level.
Speaking to the Official Website, Smith said, "I have had a great time here but I just feel in my own mind that now is right time to leave. It was a tough decision but I knew it was unlikely I would be offered a new deal in the summer. I realise that I have to look to a future outside of the game because I know I can’t be a professional footballer forever. Things have changed in my personal life and I just want to take a small break from football before I decide what I want to do next."
It is expected that he will spend some time away from football before seeking a club at a lower level later in the season.
6 Feb
Yeovil Town Preview
Harriers have another chance to complete their first double of the season when Yeovil Town visit Aggborough. Harriers gained an excellent, and valuable, win at Huish Park and will look to end the current six-game winless streak tomorrow and further increase the gap to the relegation zone.
Jan Molby has been boosted this week by the return to training of defenders Kenny Coleman and Adam Willis. Although neither will be ready for tomorrow they should be in contention for a place next weekend when captain Wayne Hatswell is suspended for the trip to Southend. Matt Gadsby is likely to continue at right back, however, as Adie Smith has today left the club for personal reasons. There are no new injuries for Molby to worry about, though, and he should have an otherwise full squad to choose from.
Yeovil will have an ex-Harrier in their ranks, boss Gary Johnson has brought in Walsall striker Andy Bishop on loan and he is likely to make his debut. Also in the squad are likely to be Nick Crittenden and Lee Elam who are recovering from injury but several players - Colin Pluck, Terry Skiverton and Paul Terry - are all doubtful and will have fitness tests before Johnson makes his final squad selection.
Yeovil are currently sixth in the table and enjoying their first season in the Football League but are suffering a dip in form at the moment. They are in fact on a similar run to Harriers winning just once in their last eight games.
The first fixture between the clubs this season took place on Boxing Day with Harriers enjoying a 2-1 win with goals from John Williams and Sean Parrish with Kevin Gall replying for The Glovers. The last time the sides met at Aggborough was back in Harriers' promotion winning season when The Reds ran out 4-0 winners. For all of the previous results between the clubs, click here.
I expect Harriers to line-up as follows: Brock, Gadsby, Stamps, Hinton, Hatswell, D. Williams, Bennett, Murray, Christiansen, J. Williams, Parrish.
The man in the middle will be Kevin Wright from Northamptonshire. So far this season he has been in charge of 17 games, 9 of them in Division Three, and shown 54 yellow cards and 7 red - 24 yellow and 3 red in Division Three.
1 Feb
Molby Disappointed To Lose
"It was farcical" - Jan Molby
Jan Molby was not happy that yesterday's game at Oxford went ahead. Addressing the press after the game he felt that Harriers could have won the game but for the dreadful conditions. Harriers had the weather in their favour in the first half but did not take advantage, Molby said, "It was farcical, in the first half it was just about playable but the wind picked up in the second half and conditions became unplayable. We had the worst of the conditions. If it had been the other way around and we had defended the wind in the first half and they had to defend in the second half we might have won the game and not Oxford."
He didn't however, blame the conditions entirely for the defeat. Both goals came from corners and Harriers defended them both badly, as they have done all season long, "The game looked like it had 1-1 written all over it but we conceded two goals from two set-pieces. We were weak for the first goal and the second was a free header and you can't allow that to happen." he continued.
Despite the lack of a cutting edge in attack, Molby felt that Harriers had the best chances, "In terms of chances we had the better efforts but we didn't take them. We had two against the bar and a shot cleared off the line in each half."
Understandably Ian Atkins, the Oxford boss, was pleased with the result that keeps his side in the promotion hunt though even he didn't think that the game should have taken place. He said, "I am delighted to get the three points but the game should never have been played. If somebody had told me at half-time that the game was called off I wouldn't have moaned. The wind was unbelievable.
"It was virtually impossible, I don't think everyone understands how hard it is. What kind of spectacle was it?. In those conditions it was magnificent. Full marks to Kidderminster, they tried their best and Jan Molby will be pleased with that but it was a farce. We came out of the farce with three points so I'm delighted, getting three points is what it is all about.
"They have a poor record against set-pieces and that's what happened."
