Adam Murray on Macclesfield semi-final….
By Matty Paddock - 01/05/2026
Posted 3 hours ago
ADAM Murray knows “anything can happen” as his team welcome Macclesfield to Aggborough on Saturday.
In his first season in charge, the Harriers boss has guided his side into the play-off semi-finals, but his focus has remained fixed throughout the week.
“We’ve got a massive challenge for us that we’ve got to get through on Saturday and we won’t look any further than that,” he said.
Momentum has carried Harriers into the game, with six wins from six building confidence at exactly the right time, but Murray’s emphasis is on what that run has demanded from his players as much as what it has delivered.
“We’ve had to win for a long time now,” he added. “We’ve had to win for a lot of months. As the games have gone on, the pressure on winning has become more,” he explained.
“Like we said a long time ago, the remit of the season was to challenge for the play-offs. Once we get in the play-offs, then you want more, we want more, so we go for that third place.
“Then you’ve got to keep winning. These boys are used to pressure, these boys are used to chasing wins and going after wins and it will hold us, hopefully, in good stead for Saturday.
“Mentally, we’re right. Physically, we’re right. It should be a good day.”
“I think our support has been amazing over the last few months…” Adam Murray
That resilience will be tested again this weekend against a Macclesfield side who arrive in strong form of their own.
Their place in the semi-final was secured in dramatic fashion with a 2-1 victory over Chester, settled by a 90+8th minute goal, and they have shown their quality across multiple competitions this season, including a standout FA Cup run that saw them claim a headline victory over holders Crystal Palace in the Third Round.
Murray is under no illusions about the challenge. Of the Silkmen, he went on: “I think they’ve had an excellent season. They’ve obviously finished fourth in the division, excellent cup run, they’ve got momentum as a football club from two previous promotions, which always helps,” he said.
“I think they’ve built something there and it’s just rolling on and sometimes when you’ve got that momentum, it just naturally happens.
“So we know we’re in for a tough game. The two games that we’ve played in the season have both been really tough games, but we’re in a good run of form. They’re a good team, but we know we’re a good team as well and we’ve had an excellent season ourselves.”
“…the fans have been amazing and they’re having a real influence on the players…”
Preparation has been thorough, with staff initially planning for multiple opponents before being able to fully narrow their focus once the quarter-final ties were settled.
“It’s a cup game, so anything can happen in those situations. It’s important we’re prepared for all scenarios,” Murray said. “We kind of had to plan for both at the start of the week and now we can really hone in on that opponent. It will be a tough game, but we think it’ll be a good game and we’re ready for it. We’ve got the plans in place.”
With league football now giving way to knockout football, the margins become even finer, and Murray is expecting a contest that will demand both control and composure from his side.
Support from the stands could prove decisive in those moments, something Murray has consistently highlighted in recent weeks.
“I think our support has been amazing over the last few months,” he insisted.
“It doesn’t matter who we’ve played here, the fans have been amazing and they’re having a real influence on the players at the minute.
“When things aren’t quite going our way in games, the supporters are edging the players on and sticking with them, pulling them through moments in the game, which is so important when you’re going for something.
“It’s been a real pleasure to see everything come together as one and I’ve got no doubts they’ll bring the roof down on Saturday.”
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