SWINDON Supermarine Dave Webb admits his side are going through a rut of bad luck of late, as they prepare to travel to Winchester City in Southern League West tonight.

Not only are Marine struggling with injury, their weekend fixture with Slimbridge was called off due to a serious injury in the 78th minute.

Combative midfielder Joe Shepherd was given a straight red card for his challenge on Marley Thomas, who suffered ligament damage at the Webbswood Stadium.

With a pending three-game ban looming for Shepherd, Webb is hoping to see the green shoots of recovery from his lengthy injury list.

Brad Hooper was deemed fit enough to play at the weekend, as was skipper Zak Westlake, while Aaron Woodley, Matt Coupe, George Kellow, Ryan Wood and Joe Selman all sat out.

Webb will be without John Else who in unavailable for tonight’s clash, but is hoping to see a diminished injury list.

“We didn’t pick up any new injuries on Saturday and hopefully we will have one or two more back this evening,” he said.

“John Else is unavailable so that is one down, I think Joe is available and will then get a three-game ban.

“We have to just wait and see how many are back and available, I think on Saturday we had seven or eight who were unavailable, so it is hard at the moment, but we will get through it.”

The club are still yet to make an appeal on Saturday’s straight red card for Shepherd, who is eligible to play tonight.

Supermarine are yet to play Winchester this season, but despite that, Webb says he knows to expect a tough game in Hampshire “It’s hard because Joe hasn’t gone out to hurt anybody and he is absolutely distraught,” he said.

“When I was playing someone broke my leg and they were rather pleased with themselves, but Joe had no intention at all.

“I feel sorry for him, it just looks like a deliberate challenge and it wasn’t, their manager agreed so it is just disappointing.

“We have to go again, weather permitting we have a game this evening and we have to go to Winchester.

“They picked up a point on Saturday, so it will be a tricky game, but we have to be ready to go again.”

Hellenic League Premier Division side Fairford Town are in action as they travel to Brimscombe & Thrupp this evening.

Jody Bevan’s troops will be fully recharged for the game after they were handed a week off as their match with Windsor was postponed due to the weather on Saturday.