FC Halifax Town midfielder John McReady was under no illusions with regards to the scale of the task that he and his team mates will face on Tuesday night, but was confident about their chances.
“It will be a tough game because no game in this league is easy. They beat us 3-1 at their place, albeit the team was down to nine men, so we will be confident and looking to get the three points.”
Although confidence is running high at Fortress Shay, McReady admitted that preparation for the game wasn’t ideal but it is something the players have adapted to.
“When we play Saturday then Tuesday it is just a case of resting then doing something in the gym to keep ourselves ticking over. Obviously being a part-time team we can’t train as a team on a Monday like a full-time team would. We’ve coped well with it in the past and hopefully Tuesday will be no different and we can keep our home form up.”
Opponents Salisbury City were not in action at the weekend when The Shaymen were falling to defeat against Lincoln City something that McReady thinks might work in the visitors’ favour on Tuesday night.
“Possibly, I was out warming up on the pitch on Saturday and the pitch was heavy so it might have affected some of the lads in the build-up to this game.”
After suffering defeat on Saturday, attention quickly turned to Tuesday nights’ game, with McReady revealing that the players were eager to get back into action.
“We have to bounce back. We know we weren’t good enough on Saturday so we are desperate to put things right and get the three points,”
“We will have to win the battle. We know they are going to be tough opponents and we will have to match them, then if we can create some chances of our own I think we can overcome them.”
Having been limited to cameo appearances from the substitute’s bench, McReady admitted that his fitness levels were not where he wants them to be.
“I am hoping to play a part but at the moment I am lacking a bit of match fitness. Maybe going out on a month’s loan to get myself some game time would necessarily be a bad thing.”
James Bolton and Ryan Crowther were brought in by Neil Aspin before the transfer window slammed shut and McReady admitted he had been impressed with what he has seen so far.
“They have settled in really well. Obviously James was here for a spell last season and a lot of the lads know him well. The gaffer never brings in players that don’t suit his style and they have the potential to do really well.”
With the latter stages of the season fast approaching, getting into the play-offs are slowly but surely creeping into the players mind and becoming something to aim for, but for now, McReady was erring on the side of caution.
“We need to make sure we don’t get too carried away. As long as we keep doing what we are doing, hopefully the results to get us in the play-offs will come.”
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