Source: manchesteronline.co.uk
RORY Patterson will play his last FC United match for over a month when the Rebels take on Darwen at Gigg Lane tomorrow (3pm).
The feisty Derry lad picked up a 35-day suspension for his part in a fracas that marred the recent cup defeat at Colne.
But manager Karl Marginson will not try to dampen the fires, merely to channel them in the right direction - and that includes banning Patterson from jumping into the crowd to celebrate his goals!
The 21-year-old former Rochdale striker picked up a yellow card for a prodigious leap into the Manchester Road End after smashing in the winner in Monday's 2-1 victory over second-placed Winsford at Gigg Lane.
"There was a lot of pent-up frustration in that celebration because Rory hasn't started as often as he would have liked," said Marginson.
"He was lucky he didn't hurt himself because there is quite a drop into that end of the ground."
The clash with fifth-placed Darwen, who were beaten 2-1 away earlier in the season, will also see defenders Tony Cullen and Gareth Orme back in contention after injury.
And Patterson is likely to be frustrated again with Marginson keen to see how new signing Leon Mike and Adie Orr gel up front.
Former Manchester City and Aberdeen striker Mike started against Winsford and his bulk had the MRE fans glad that it was not him that hurled himself into their midst in celebration.
But Marginson was more than happy with his debut, saying: "To be fair to Leon he hasn't played for quite a while and he has always been a bit chunky - his stamina needs working at. But people also saw how quick he is over a short distance, how good his touch is and how aware he is.
"He and Adie complement each other quite well because Leon brings other players into the game well and Adie plays on the shoulder of the last defender a bit more."
The first six months of the Rebels' existence has, obviously, been one big flurry of transfer activity with Mike and former Maine Road player-manager Chris Simms the latest additions just before Christmas.
Marginson says the activity will calm down now as he wants to allow his team time to settle, especially his defence. Winsford targeted the United defence as a weak point in Saturday's game and they have leaked 20 goals in 19 games, despite banging in 67 at the other end.
Off the field, the Rebels continue to confound their critics. Saturday's record 4,328 crowd made the Moore and Co Solicitors league second division side the 88th best-supported side in the country, ahead of six Football League clubs, including hosts Bury, Rochdale and Macclesfield.
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