Leigh RMI v. Forest Green Rovers preview

By Matt Lawton
September 3 2004

RMI take the field tomorrow desperate to kickstart their currently winless season when they face fellow basement battlers Forest Green Rovers at Hilton Park.

Leigh boss Phil Starbuck has been dealt a triple blow ahead of the vital Conference game with Rovers with the news that Gareth Holmes, Karl Rose and Greg Rioch will all be missing from the side through injury.

Holmes make a shock early return from a knee ligament injury to face Morecambe on Monday afternoon but bizarrely injured his hand when punching an advertising hoarding in frustration at a poor pass in the second half at Christie Park.

Rose is missing after suffering an injury in the 2-1 Morecambe defeat, falling awkwardly after being fouled in the air early in the encounter, resulting in his substitution for eventual goalscorer Alex Meechan, while Rioch is still missing with a knee injury.

Visitors Forest Green are boosted with the inclusion of former Nottingham Forest defender Des Lyttle, who turned down the advances of Burton Albion to sign for the Gloucestershire outfit earlier this week.

Charlie Griffin and Jon Holloway are both struggling with stomach and muscle strains respectively, while Simon Bryant and Andy Thomson both remain on the long-term injury list with knee problems.