Loan watch - Fletcher, Long and McDonald

Wes Fletcher - good start at Stockport

All three have gone out for a month initially to get some games and I think it is fair to say that, of the three, Wes had the best start in Stockport's 2-1 win over Barnet at Edgeley Park.

I wasn't sure that he'd go straight into Paul Simpson's team and thought he might have to settle for a place on the bench, but I picked up the news ahead of kick off at Bramall Lane that he was indeed in the starting line up.

Stockport have been under a bit of pressure at home, to say the least. They haven't won there since February when George Donnelly scored twice in a 4-3 win against Wycombe. Wes partnered Donnelly up front yesterday despite the pair not having trained together due to Donnelly having been carrying an injury.

"Within five minutes Fletcher showed what manager Paul Simpson had seen in him when watching Burnley reserves recently, as he showed a nice touch to lose his man and then played in Donnelly whose effort was cleared at the second attempt," is how his first involvement was reported by County.

Everything about him was positive and, as Stockport finally got that home win, he played the entire ninety minutes as they came from behind to win 2-1.

When asked why he brought in Fletcher, Simpson said after the game: "The big thing about him is he's got a very good goalscoring record in the reserve and youth teams. He's got good movement and a fantastic attitude."

If it was a good start for Wes, then it certainly wasn't for Kevin Long who was making his Football League debut when he went straight into the Accrington team for their home game against Rotherham.

Things were going well, Accy were a goal up, until the 17^th minute when Long was sent off. News of his dismissal were coming through to us at Bramall Lane and that it was for violent conduct.

I have to say that didn't sound like Long, and eventually I found it was for preventing a goalscoring opportunity as Adam Le Fondre went through. It looked harsh, and the penalty award was downright appalling given it was well outside the box.

Long will now serve a two match ban, one for yesterday's red card and an additional game as this is his second red card of the season.

Finally, Kevin McDonald will have to wait a few more days to make his Scunthorpe debut after being ruled out of their home game against Doncaster yesterday with a back injury.

Manager Ian Baraclough said: "It's a muscular injury and whether it's to do with travelling from Burnley or the training we did on Thursday I don't know. He said the training was quicker than anything he's done at Burnley. He should hopefully be okay for Preston on Tuesday."