Matt Elliott warns Rangers of a fight
Friday 25th March 2011, 8:30AM GMT.
Stafford Rangers boss Matt Elliott have told his side to be “up for a fight” when they travel to in-form Eastwood.
Rangers’ Blue Square North relegation fight continues at Coronation Park tomorrow, with the game to kick-off at 1pm because of the World Cup qualifier between England and Wales.
And Elliott is expecting just as keenly contested a game as the big match at the Millennium Stadium, against a physical Eastwood side who are fit and firing after six wins and a draw from their last seven outings.
The Rangers boss also expects to be without captain Craig McAughtrie with the lingering effects of a hip injury, which the defender re-aggravated running up steps through his day job as a policeman.
Grant Goodhead could again be on the bench as defensive cover, while left-back Craig Reid should return after missing Tuesday’s Staffordshire Senior Cup exit to Kidsgrove with a hamstring strain.
Midfielder Danny Edwards will also be back after being cup-tied in midweek while Elliott will have to make a decision on re-signing Sean Kinsella, who wants to return to the club, for the trip.
The manager goes into tomorrow’s game with back-to-back league wins but has warned Rangers must be at their best to make it a hat-trick against Eastwood.
He said: “Eastwood are a no-nonsense outfit that are very physical and we have got to be ready to match that challenge ahead of us. We have got to be up for a fight, without a doubt.
“But I am not fearful of any team in this league. Yes, they are capable of turning us over but, at the same time, we are capable of getting a result there on the day.
“Every game I expect full commitment and we need to knuckle down in every game, we are not a good enough team to take it easy. When we are not playing at full throttle, we run the risk of coming unstuck.
“The next nine games are vitally important and it’s not going to be pretty, pretty football – it’s going to be a battle.”
UK Sport
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