Gaz aiming to do the double over pal Alexander (From This Is Local London)

Gaz aiming to do the double over pal Alexander

8:30am Friday 1st March 2013 in Latest Sport By Andy Carswell

GARETH Ainsworth may have to outwit his friend Graham Alexander from the pitch instead of the dugout tomorrow as he aims for a third double of the season.

Injuries to wingers Joel Grant and Bruno Andrade meant Ainsworth had to dust his boots off against Torquay, and if the pair fail to recover the Blues boss may have to play himself from the start against Fleetwood tomorrow.

If he does it'll leave less time to catch up with Cod Army boss Alexander, a former team mate of Ainsworth's at Preston North End.

He said: "I know he'll have them really fired up for this one. They have done well away from home and we'll have to be at our best to get anything out of the game.

"He's one of the few who outdid me with age - he was playing at 40 years old, although he's definitely hung them up now.

"He was always an intelligent player, he saw the game really well. When we were at Preston he was right back and I was right wing, so he was always right behind me and we had a good connection.

"It's two of the next generation of managers going head to head, which should be a good spectacle."

Wanderers beat Fleetwood in one of Ainsworth's first games in charge and the player/manager is looking for another double after completing the trick against Torquay and York in recent weeks.

He said: "This is what you do when you're a good side and want to get in the play offs - you start winning home and away against teams. To complete another double would be fantastic.

"We did a really complete performance up there. I remember them trying to play football first half and bringing big Jon Parkin on at the end and changed their style to try and get something out of the game.

"We defended stoutly and we should take positives from that."

Grant and Andrade were both being assessed by the Wanderers medical team yesterday, having both picked up ankle injuries at Torquay on Tuesday.

Ainsworth said: "Bruno says he's OK but I'll be the judge of whether he's back to the old Bruno.

"Joel was very professional by saying he couldn't carry on. It's something I've tried to instill in the players this year. The good thing is he won't have made it any worse by staying on."

He added: "I'm sure if I do start there will be an opportunity for someone to come on later because there's no way I'll last 90 minutes. I only just lasted 40 the other night."