FC Halifax Town resume their National League North campaign this Saturday when they welcome Tamworth to the MBi Shay Stadium, hoping to keep their unbeaten run going, and to stay top of the league table. After a 1-1 draw with Stockport County on Tuesday night, Billy Heath has still never seen his side slump to defeat and no doubt expects to see that continue when the Shaymen return to the pitch on the weekend.
Looking ahead to the game, we spoke to Scott Garner on what he expects to see on Saturday as well as what the squad took from the Stockport result.
Garner was overall pleased with the Tuesday game, but knows thereโs still slight room for improvementโฆ
โI think the most positive thing is how disappointed everyone was to come in drawing the game, rather than winning. The manager said itโs a good point away at Stockport, but the lads are disappointed we didnโt take three, so it shows what mindset weโre in. I think we made one mistake, a lot of our wingers shouldnโt be picking up from a set-piece. Apart from that, I thought we played exactly the right way at Stockport. I think we can raise our tempo again and move the ball a bit quicker. But I think we did everything right really. We went to a big club, drew 1-1, not a bad result, and we can go and try get three points this Saturdayโ
Tamworthโs two victories this season have both came with late goals giving the Lambs the three points. Scott is confident this wonโt be the case when the two teams clash at the Shayโฆ
โI donโt think we finish weak, I think we finish quite strong. I donโt think weโre going to switch off for anything against any team. Weโre such a strong team in this league, I think weโve just got to concentrate on our game a lot of the time, and weโll get the points and the wins that we deserve, thatโs the mindset we have going into gamesโ
He also expects a reaction from the visitors, but believes himself and his teammates will be too much to handle come kick-offโฆ
โYouโll expect the reaction. If you lose 3-0, youโre always guaranteed a reaction from a club. Itโs down to us, if we do it right on the day and work hard, I donโt think anyone can live with us in this league, so thatโs what weโre focusing on. Itโs a good result for Boston, glad to see them get off the mark with a win. We go into the games concentrating on our game, and weโre pretty sure weโve got too much for anyone in this league if we go about our business in the right wayโ
Garner also thinks his side have a great chance to keep the clubโs unbeaten run going and come away with the maximum pointsโฆ
โWe donโt like getting beat, weโve got a lot of winners and big characters on our team. Even at 1-1, the Stockport fans started making a lot of noise, they were coming onto us a bit, but we were never going to back down and get beat. I think weโre going to be a really hard team to beat and teams will be happy taking a point of us I think. Teams will be happy taking a point from us I think. The unbeaten run could go on all season couldnโt it, but if it doesnโt then we bounce back and go again in the next game, but we donโt like getting beat at all, so hopefully it doesnโt happen too oftenโ
And with the reward of league leaders coming with the unbeaten run, the morale and confidence boosts also give the squad a huge liftโฆ
โItโs massive to be on an unbeaten run, you go into games not expecting to lose, and you go in expecting to win. I think thatโs why we were so disappointed drawing the other night, because weโre used to winning, we donโt like anything less than three points. The unbeaten run is really important. Teams donโt expect to beat you, so as long as that can carry on, the better really. Itโs inevitable you will lose a game, but itโs the reaction to come back and win the next one thatโs important. Itโs important but itโs not massive factor in the season, but we do want to keep it going for as long as possibleโ
FC Halifax Townโs game with Tamworth is on Saturday at 3pm.
Read more posts by Kelly Gilchrist