AFC Telford seeking 'massive' win over Stalybridge Celtic
AFC Telford United boss Rob Smith has vowed to go to Stalybridge Celtic with all guns blazing as they aim to get a ‘massive’ win tonight.
The Bucks – who have lost five of their last six National League North outings – are 18th in the table, three points above the drop zone.
They are targeting nothing less than all three points at second-bottom Celtic ahead of another huge clash on Saturday, at home against 19th-placed Worcester City. “It’s massive, we’ve got to win it. We have to go and get a win and we’ll be going all guns blazing to do that,” said Smith.
“If we do, we can go into Worcester with confidence and know if we beat them as well that we’ve got every chance.
“If we beat them at home as well, we’re one step safe. Then there’s other games we can win as well so we will see what happens.
“We want two wins, the whole focus is on getting two wins now and then we’ll go from there.”
A crazy three minutes – conceding and then giving away a penalty which lead to another goal – proved costly as Telford lost 2-1 at Brackley Town on Saturday.
Although frustrated with those defensive errors, Smith believes there were plenty of positives to take from the game including the performance of midfielder Joe Fitzpatrick – who is likely to start at Bower Fold.
“No-one is as frustrated as me, believe me. I can only tell them, I can’t do it for them,” he said. “But I think we competed with a side probably on treble of what we have got.
“I thought Joe Fitzpatrick was tremendous. A few have criticised him coming back but I don’t get it myself.
“Any normal day of the season, you would have said ‘happy days’ but we need points.
“We are capable of doing it if we play like we did (on Saturday), but we can’t afford to commit footballing suicide, which we keep doing.”
Had it not been for Gainsborough Trinity conceding in the 97th minute to draw 3-3 with Darlington on Saturday, Telford would be a solitary point above the relegation places.
Smith insists his side cannot get too caught up with what is going on elsewhere though and added: “We can’t keep looking at Gainsborough’s results, we’ve got to put ourselves right.
“I just want to get us safe and start again.”
