First Blood!

As United get ready for a double header at the National Stadium, tomorrow, it will be a case of 'first blood' to whoever comes out on top, for the fixture is played to a finish. Naturally we at 'Sport hope and pray that's its going to be our beloved Sky Blues, but its cup football and anything can happen and usually does.

We cannot ascertain who will be starting tomorrow, but one definite non-starter is on-loan central defender Gareth Rodger, who has gone back to his parent club St Johnston, as his loan period expireded. Sky Blue Sport, woukld like to wish Gareth good luck as he strives to gain a place in the St Johnston first-team squad.

Another missing player is the managers son Matthew, who serves a suspension for reaching 10 penalty points (five yellow cards). Who will replace Gareth Rodger at central defence is anybody's guess? We imagine that local boys Michael Smith ans Caolan Loughran, will be ineligible for this game, due to Smith being cup-tied and Caolan signed too late.

But what do we know, we won't be surprised if Caolan makes the bench tomorrow, but think it would be a massive gamble by Spike, to give him a starting role, if eligible. But managers get rewarded by taking risks and our defence is greatly in need of shoring up. We think this game will come too soon for Tippers to return and our 2 goal hero Jenks, will get the nod in the strikers role.

Who plays alongside him is up for debate, with opinions divided among the Sky Blue faithful, some say that Cush, will be rested as he is going to the Crues after the Shield decider next Tuesday and Crues don't want him cup-tied. Our manager, who is reported to be chasing Gary Twigg and Michael Gault of Portadown, has been silent so far.

But no smoke without fire, as they say, stranger things have happened and the Crues juggernaut, has certainly been stalled of late. The 'Sport crew is missing one also, as Sammy (Patterson), fights a severe chest infection, but he's hopeful of making the Shield decider next Tuesday, his company and wit are sorely missed by us all.

Have we another match-winner in our side, if Cush doesn't play we ask? Until last Saturday's game at Shamrock Park, we would have said no, but three players rose to the fore in Steeky, Thommo and Jenks. Their never-say-die attitude is what won us that game and we'll need more of the same tomorrow. So Come on Sky Blues, lets shag those Windsor sheep!