Solihull Moors manager Liam McDonald has spoken ahead of his side’s National League fixture away at Woking tomorrow afternoon (3pm kick-off). McDonald also looked backed on Tuesday night’s 1-0 defeat at home to high-flyers Lincoln City.
The Moors boss had this to say:
‘First of all just a few words about the immense effort by the players on Tuesday night. You probably know that I consider Lincoln City to be the best team in the National League – a team that has reached the Fifth Round of the Emirates FA Cup by knocking out so far Oldham Athletic, Ipswich Town and last Weekend Brighton, a team tipped for promotion to the Premier league.
They are, of course full time professionals and it made me feel proud when their manager Danny Cowley said that in his opinion it was a match between two of the in-form sides in the league. I think they were the better team and deserved their victory but it was a fantastic performance from our lads and with a bit of luck, especially if George Carline’s header had gone in, who knows what might have been the outcome.
If I have any grumbles it was the manner of their goal given how we set up the team on the night.
Now we are fully focussed on Woking. This is a well established club, perhaps not having their best season so far, but you only have to look at their recent wins at away to Torquay and Eastleigh to appreciate what a force they are. They might have suffered a home set back on Tuesday when they succumbed 0 – 3 to Tranmere but they will be looking to bounce straight back against us and get clear of the relegation zone.
For us, we will have a recovery session tonight – you cannot ask part time players who have given everything on a Tuesday night to have a full blown training session 48 hours later. The lads were tired after Lincoln but we will spend some of the evening looking at a video of Woking’s last match, and I think the squad will then be ready for the game on Saturday.
Happily, we have a full squad from which to choose and I am hopeful that Connor Franklin will soon be back in contention after the injury he sustained against Chester on Boxing Day. We will as always travel south in a confident mood – there were many positives from Lincoln to take with us especially as I thought we actually had more possession on Tuesday night than we did last Saturday when we beat Maidstone!
Tactically we are still improving and if you think back to the draw at Dagenham, I cannot see us letting a three goal lead slip again. We counter attack well but we all appreciate that there is a time when we are in front to dig deep and play out the game to achieve maximum points. Other clubs have done that to us – Barrow for instance just shut up shop at 2 – 1 and you cannot criticise them for that.
We will. Of course, relish the next home game against Sutton United on the 11th February just nine days before they play Arsenal in the FA Cup. I would never have believed when I took the job here that I would have two successive home league games against teams in the fifth round of the Cup – exciting times!
Did anyone else wonder what effect the Lincoln traveling army had on that result? I have heard some comments that they brought a fan base approaching one thousand. That must make a huge difference to how the players feel and so, as always, I ask our fans to turn up in their numbers for the home matches and those who travel away to make even more noise than they do already. You make all the difference!’
McDonald also spoke to the Solihull Observer ahead of tomorrow’s fixture and spoke of how pleased he is about his side’s current morale and team spirit.
‘I am fortunate to have a squad which although fairly new has developed such a terrific team spirit in a matter of weeks.
‘It has come so quickly as has the mentality of winning and goes from top downwards on the playing side of the club.’
Will you be at the Kingsfield Stadium on Saturday? Will the Moors beat the Cardinals? Let us know your predictions in the comments section below!
Share this article
Related Articles
