Ahead of Saturday’s league match at home to Harborough Town (3:00 KO), manager Tim Flowers has provided an in-depth preview, looking at recent results, our current league situation and the incredible support. He starts with thoughts on our opponents…
Harborough have lost less games than any other team in the division and you have to congratulate Mitch (Austin – manager) – he’s put together a group of lads who are better than the level and they’re a really strong outfit.
We’ve had a week to prepare for the game – the lads did a bit of running again on Tuesday with our pitch being out of use and they got the miles in. On Thursday, we trained at the college – there was torrential rain again, so it was one of those sessions where they got a good sweat on. They’re in good spirits at the moment, and we come into the game off the back of a home win versus Barwell, that was really hard fought, and then another really hard fought point at Stamford, who were in good form going into the game.
We gave our full respect to them and, in the end, I think it was a game that we just shaded. On quality chances created, we probably should have nicked it – but we didn’t, and any point on the road is greatly accepted, especially if it’s backed up with points at home.
We’ve got 14 league games left, which is exactly a third of a league season, and we still need plenty more points to assure our Step Three survival. Tomorrow, not many people would expect us to get anything but, we can’t see it like that – we are going to need to get points against teams at the top end of the league to have a chance of staying up.
What I will say about the players is that their commitment to training and working hard has been absolutely fantastic in the time that I’ve been here. The lads are putting a lot of work into the training, the sessions are well supported and they’re having a good go.
In terms of getting players in, I’m getting bored of saying the same thing now! We’ve had a lot of conversations with some players but, in the end, they look at it and don’t fancy it – but it is what it is!
At the moment, I’ve got a bunch of lads that, whoever runs out of that tunnel tomorrow, they’ll give everything for the club and the badge, so that’s a good starting point and, if you can add a smidgen more quality to that, then you’ll be on the right track.
We’ll approach the game as we always approach it – we want to improve, we want to be solid and try to limit the opposition but, against Harborough, that’s no easy task – whatever happens, we’ll be giving it a good go.
Billy (Shaw) tweaked him hamstring last weekend, so we’ll take a look at him, and I think everybody else is good to go.
I’d like to thank the supporters who have travelled with us in the last few weeks – most of the games we’ve played on the road have been fair old trips. We’ve got Leiston next Saturday, and we’ve still got to go to Needham Market and St Ives.
We’ve been well supported at home too – two teams in the lower regions last time out versus Barwell, and to get the crowd we did was no mean feat.
I know the lads, the staff and I really respect that and we thank the fans for that – as far as we’re concerned, we ask for more of the same! Come and get behind the boys, because they’re giving everything they’ve got for the club and the town. And the more the merrier to get behind us would be great!
