Reds boss aims for away win

By John Walsh

Last updated 14:12, Thursday, 28 August 2008

AFTER getting off the mark with the first win of the season on Monday, Workington boss Darren Edmondson is looking for something on the road now.

Workington Reds v Tamworth; Saturday 9th February 2008: PAUL JOHNSON

Reds travel to Alfreton on Saturday and have a quick follow-up on Monday night when they play at Droylsden.

“The victory over Burscough will have lifted morale but we have to build on that and get something on our travels.

“With two away games in just over 48 hours we want to bring something back from both if possible,” said Edmondson.

He has to tackle both games without central defender Kyle May who is suspended.

“Kyle had to come off with an ankle injury on Monday so he might have been missing anyway. If he was going to get injured it was the best time when he can’t play for a fortnight,” said the Reds boss.

Lee Andrews will continue to play at the heart of the defence and is likely to have Dan Kirkup as his partner at Alfreton. Kirkup came on for the last ten minutes to replace the injured May.

“Lee has been playing well for us at full-back but he is a very accomplished centre-half as we saw against Burscough. His experience is going to be very important when we are without Kyle,” said Edmondson.

The Reds manager will put himself on the bench again in case of any defensive problems.

His opposite number at Alfreton, Nicky Law feels his team is back on track despite only picking up two points from the two August Bank Holiday games.

They were held to a 1-1 draw at home by new boys King's Lynn last Saturday before picking up a deserved point from a tough game at highly fancied second-placed AFC Telford United on the Monday.

The two points took the total to six from five games so far this season, mirroring the start Law's side had achieved this time last year in terms of points gained but more importantly, they banished the horrors of the defeat at Gateshead.

Law is now looking for his side to move up a level and take maximum points from two home games in four days to push themselves into the top section of Blue Square North. He said "We are perhaps victims of our own success in pre-season. Everyone knows it counts for nothing but after the terrific form we showed and then beating Hyde United on the opening day of the season, the expectation levels went beyond reality.

"We came back from Solihull massively disappointed at only gaining a draw and the defeat at Gateshead left us totally flat.

"Against King's Lynn - who haven't lost yet - we went in front and didn't hold the lead for long enough.

“Then we went to Telford who probably have the best pitch, best support, best strike force in the division, I would think best budget, and got a deserved point.

"It was their job to break us down but they couldn't. Yes they had lots of possession, but only where we wanted them to have it, across the back. In the end we had as many clear cut chances as them.

"We had a barrow load of injury and fitness problems but everyone worked their socks off and the result was a massive big plus for us.

"I still think we are going to do well this year but we have to be a bit more patient and not want everything to happen all at once."

Six points from the next two home games against Workington this Saturday and Tamworth next Tuesday would settle things down even more and kick the Derbyshire side up the table but Law knows neither game will be easy.

He added: "Workington will be big and strong and it is up to us to break them down but we have the ammunition to do it. The Tamworth game has the added bit of spice for the fans with the return of manager Gary Mills but it is just another tough game because they have had a good start with some good results."

Workington are one place below Alfreton in 14th spot while Tamworth are currently sixth and are unbeaten on the road with a win and a draw so far.