Ferry position could be switched again (From Swindon Advertiser)

SWINDON TOWN: Ferry position could be switched again

6:00am Tuesday 12th March 2013 in Sport By Sam Morshead

Simon Ferry, left

KEVIN MacDonald has revealed that Simon Ferry will not be permanently employed on the right side of midfield.

The Swindon Town manager has used his fellow Scot on the right flank in the each of his two games in charge of the Robins to date, but has stressed that he will remain flexible with his team selection and formation.

MacDonald’s hand may be forced by the news that Tommy Miller is a doubt for the trip to Brentford tonight. The midfielder is struggling with a calf injury sustained in the draw with Walsall at the weekend and did not train with Town yesterday.

However, the 52-year-old had not settled on Ferry being utilised in a wide position at Griffin Park anyway.

“We’ve just looked at something with Simon but there might be a case of changing it totally differently,” he said. “That might change when we look at the footage that we’ve got of Brentford. Nothing is set in stone.

“I’m quite flexible, I just think that Simon Ferry deserved to be playing in the team. I don’t think he’s an out and out wide player but I think he’s a good footballer and he deserved to be in the team for the past couple of games.

“That was the best position I felt for him, and he scored one goal and did very well in the previous week so he’s obviously thriving at that.”

One player in the Brentford set-up that MacDonald knows all too well is playmaker Harry Forrester, who he coached as a youngster at Aston Villa.

“There are a couple of lads who play in their team, especially Harry Forrester, who was at Aston Villa with myself.

“I know him well. He came to us from Milton Keynes. He got a little bit of coaching from myself and others at Aston Villa but the kid’s done it himself and he’s done very, very well.

“There was a lot of speculation he might have moved on to a Championship side in the transfer window but that didn’t materialise.

“They (Brentford) are a decent side, as are the top eight, nine or 10 teams in this league.

“It’s all about who can take their chances on the night and who can put that run together to win more than the opposition in the last 10.”

With just seven points separating the top six in League One at present, the trip to sixth-placed Brentford represents a major chance for Town to enhance their claim for a play-off place and put serious pressure on the top two.

MacDonald, however, reckons the fight for automatic promotion could go right the way to the last day of the season.

“Everybody says there are a lot of big games coming up, which there are, but they are big games for the opposition as well,” he said. “Swindon Town haven’t been in the top five or six all season without being a good side.

“I can see it going down to the last games and everybody being on radios trying to find out who’s winning and who’s losing.

“We would like to think we can get on a good run and get away from that but the facts are and the chances are that that won’t happen.”

Nathan Thompson is also a doubt for the Robins with a knee injury, while Miles Storey (hamstring) and Troy Archibald-Henville (knee) remain sidelined.