PREVIEW: Hyde v Luton Town

It looked bad when they were hammered 8-0 on the opening day at Forest Green Rovers and then never fully recovered, taking two points from their opening 16 games, as the writing was quite clearly on the wall.

They did eventually win at Welling in January, but that didn’t herald any sort of Lazarus like recovery, as their final 17 games have heralded only another three points, courtesy of three draws.

They shipped seven at Cambridge recently too and were eventually put out of their misery in early March, relegated after defeat number 30 of the season.

The Ewen Fields’ crowd are yet to witness a victory this season either, with Hyde having drawn three and lost 19 of their home matches, scoring 18 and conceding a mighty 56.

Hyde have lost their last four at home too, with a 2-2 draw at Aldershot on February 22 the last time they avoided defeat.

Boss Scott McNiven did move to bring in Doncaster striker Chris Whincop before the loan window closed, but he is yet to get off the mark for his new club.

They also lost leading scorer Scott Spencer to FC Halifax Town on loan, with the forward having netted eight goals during the campaign for Hyde.

Team news: Luton will be without Alex Lawless (hamstring), while there are doubts over Paul Benson. The likes of Luke Guttridge, Jonathan Smith and Danny Fitzsimons are all out too.

Top Skrill scorer - Tigers: Scott Spencer (8) Hatters: Andre Gray (30).

Average crowds: Hyde: 595. Hatters: 7,387.

Man in the middle: Anthony Backhouse. Referee has shown 44 yellows and two reds in his 15 matches this season.

Taken Luton just once in the league this campaign, the 3-0 home win over Southport back in November, while also had Hyde’s 3-0 home defeat to Macclesfield and 2-2 draw with Aldershot.

Last season, he officiated the Town’s 3-0 reverse at Alfreton and 1-0 defeat at Barrow where he sent off Lathaniel Rowe-Turner.

This term he has also been an assistant in League’s One and Two, recently on the line for Oldham Athletic’s home clash with Crawley Town.

In charge: Scott McNiven - 35-year-old who progressed through the youth ranks at Oldham Athletic as a player, making over 200 appearances during 10 years before leaving in 2002.

Joined Oxford where he played 85 times in two years before spells at Mansfield Town, Chester City, Morecambe, Fleetwood Town, Guiseley, Farlsey Celtic and Fylde.

Moved to Hyde at the start of the 2009–10 season, before he was made assistant to Neil Tolson on October 3, 2010.

Took over as joint player-manager with Steve Halford after the sacking of Tolson in April 2011.

He was replaced before the start of the 2011–12 campaign by Gary Lowe, but when Lowe resigned in May 2012, he was appointed as full-time boss.

Friendly faces: Town winger Shaun Whalley joined Hyde in August 2010 after his release from Droylsden. Stayed with the club for four months before being released in order to join Southport in January 2011.

One to watch: Liam Tomsett - 22-year-old midfielder is on loan from Blackpool this season, making 38 starts and scoring three goals.

His on-field behaviour is worth watching out for, as Tomsett has picked up 11 bookings and also been sent off once this year too.

Last time out: Luton’s only ever trip to Hyde ended in a 2-1 win last season.

The Hatters had trailed when former Town player Matt Blinkhorn scored on 55 minutes, before JJ O’Donnell levelled just after the hour mark and then Stuart Fleetwood bagged the winner with 12 to go.

Hatters: Mark Tyler, Lathaniel Rowe-Turner, Janos Kovacs, Ronnie Henry, Greg Taylor (Jake Howells 61), Alex Lawless, JJ O’Donnell, Yaser Kasim (Andre Gray 65), Scott Rendell, Jon Shaw, Stuart Fleetwood (Matt Robinson 87).

Subs not used: Dean Brill, Dean Beckwith.

Referee: Darren Handley.

Attendance: 1,141.

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