Livesey tips rookie Campion to do the business
Last updated 10:19, Saturday, 03 May 2008
Sidelined skipper Danny Livesey is backing rookie defender Darren Campion to thrive on his full Carlisle United debut in today’s massive League One battle with Bournemouth.
Livesey was sent off for a foul on Millwall’s Neil Harris in last Saturday’s 3-0 defeat and sits out today’s must-win clash through a one-match ban.
It means Campion, 20, will replace Livesey alongside Peter Murphy at centre-half. And the former Birmingham youngster has the support of the man named one of League One’s best two centre-halves in last Sunday's PFA League One select team.
“I prefer to play than watch by a long way and it;s going to be gutting for me not to be involved,” said Livesey.
“I’ll be nervous – but I’m sure Darren will be fine. I think he'll love it. He's played centre-half quite a few times and it’s not as though he's not used to it.
“He’s not slow either, and he’ll need to be quick against the likes of Jo Kuffour.”
Cherries striker Kuffour and highly-rated teenage marksman Sam Vokes will pose the main goalscoring threats to United tomorrow as the south coast side bid to complete their unlikely survival bid.
Frontman Danny Graham, meanwhile, says the Blues’ players will remain focused on the job in hand today whilst most of the 10,000+ crowd will have one ear on events at Cheltenham and Nottingham Forest, where United’s destiny will also be decided.
“We can’t let the other games worry us – we’ve just got to get on with our own business and try to pick up three points,” said the 16-goal top scorer.
“Bournemouth have been in administration and had a difficult time, but they’ve gone six games unbeaten and beaten the likes of Swansea away.
“It will be tough, because they need the points to stay in the league, but we want the win just as badly.
“Last Saturday we wanted to get away from Millwall as quickly as possible – everyone was thoroughly disappointed with the performance and the result.
“But you've just got to get on with it and hopefully take that out on Bournemouth. If we get a big crowd and a good result, the least it will do is give us that bit of confidence going into the play-offs. But it could be even more important than that.”
United are on target for their third five-figure Brunton Park crowd of the league season today. Before the game – which is being sponsored by the News & Star – goalkeeper Keiren Westwood will be presented with his player of the year award after overwhelmingly winning our readers’ poll.
And World Cup winner Jack Charlton will also be at Brunton Park to perform the half-time Golden Gamble draw.
JColman@cngroup.co.uk
