Matt Elliott wants focus for Rangers
Friday 18th February 2011, 8:30AM GMT.
Stafford Rangers manager Matt Elliott has told his team to focus on their own goals as they head to Gainsborough Trinity in a relegation six-pointer.
Rangers go to the Northolme tomorrow in the last relegation place six points behind their hosts, who occupy the first safety spot, with a game in hand.
But Trinity, managed by former Villa and Albion boss Brian Little, are in free-fall in the Blue Square North after losing their last three games.
Defeat to Elliott’s men would compound their recent woes and they have already fell to Rangers once this season, a 3-1 defeat at Marston Road in September.
But the visitors will definitely miss Ashley Wooliscroft, who faces at least another week out with a groin injury, although Elliott is hopeful of signing former Redditch defender Craig Reid in time for the game.
Mark Dudley is also a doubt with the foot injury that forced him out of last Saturday’s 2-1 over Redditch, but Alex Forde is able to play despite being red carded in that game.
Andre Francis and Levi Reid could also return after not being risked in Tuesday night’s Staffordshire Senior Cup win over Hednesford, Francis pulling out in the warm-up with a jarred right knee while Reid sat it all together with a groin strain.
Rangers make the trip looking to pile on the misery for the home side, but Elliott has told his players to concentrate on their own game.
He said: “Gainsborough won’t be happy with their situation but I am more concerned about us, as I am sure Brian is with his own team.
“If we don’t get our own house in order, it’s irrelevant to us anyway, but we have put ourselves in the mix and results have gone our way with the teams around us.
“We are looking forward to the task ahead tomorrow but we have got plenty of six-pointers coming up, we need to get results there and in the other games coming up.
“We are not getting carried away but things are certainly looking better than they did a week ago, put it that way.”
UK Sport
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