A look at Saturday’s game…
By Matty Paddock - 25/10/2024
Posted 2 years ago
HARRIERS travel to Peterborough Sports on Saturday looking to repeat last weekend’s efforts on the road in National League North.
Phil Brown’s men were decisive 3-0 winners at Needham Market on their last journey, and followed that up with a point against Marine at Aggborough on Tuesday night.
The quest for points now heads to Peterborough as Harriers are tasked with meeting a Sports side who fell to a midweek defeat at the hands of Farsley Celtic.
Prior to that, though, they’d downed Marine 2-0 to add to wins against Oxford City, King’s Lynn and Buxton this term.
They’ll be a tough nut to crack on their own patch, as Harriers found out to their cost in falling to a last-gasp FA Trophy defeat there last season.
Looking ahead to the game, Brown urged his side to keep building in their confidence, explaining: “I don’t think for one minute that win at Needham Market was a thought process that we’d cracked it, I think there’s still a long way to go with regards to winning games of football at any level.
“You’re trying to finish teams off, trying to get into a good vein of form and trying to do the right things on the training ground and in the classroom, as it were, as it’s an education programme for everybody.
“I am learning about the players still, and they are learning about me, my methods and our methods, and I’m trying to analyse the results we’ve had and, more importantly, the performances.
“If you take the two 3-0 and 4-0 wins, we’ve had, which are comprehensive victories, you’d think you’re going to move on and win the next game, but it doesn’t become that easy.
“I fully respect the league and the coaches in this league. I think they do their homework on us. Does that mean we have to change the system and personnel week in, and week out? I don’t think so.
“I think you’ve got to just get a good, strong group of players, which we have, all pointing in the same direction and singing from the same hymn sheet and take your moments when they come along.”
Brown explained that both Ben Beresford and Paul Downing remain out of action but are closing in on their returns, Beresford said to be ahead of the defender in terms of timings.
Neither will make the trip on Saturday, and nor will Alex Penny (back) who has been advised to rest after feeling considerable discomfort prior to last weekend and having suffered a fracture in that area in the past.
Saturday’s game begins a busy spell of action for the Reds, with Brown going on to add: “I think it will be season defining, and I like putting pressure on myself.
“I like saying ‘there’s eight games, 24 points’, why would you shoot for 21, why would you shoot for 20?
“Every game is a winnable game [and] that will include Peterborough on Saturday.
“At this moment in time, we’re growing in the belief that we can keep a clean sheet, and if we can keep a clean sheet on Saturday, we will create chances.
“We’ve got to now growing in that belief that these chances are going to come along and that we’re going to bear fruit.”
Away travel for Saturday’s trip is available from Harriers up to and including Friday – the hosts have confirmed admission can be paid for on the day, but that there are no cash payments taken at the gate.
Kick off on Saturday is at 3:00pm.
This article is about: Match
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