Rangers go for kill in must-not-lose
Friday 22nd April 2011, 8:30AM BST.
Stafford Rangers could be without five players – but manager Matt Elliott has vowed to attack in their potential relegation decider at Corby.
Rangers could go down from the Blue Square North tomorrow, depending on nearest rivals Hyde’s result at Workington.
A win for Elliott’s men would guarantee that the fate of the two teams will go on until at least Monday, when Hyde host Droylsden in their game in hand.
A draw for Rangers could also prolong the relegation fight provided Hyde lose or draw which, at worse, would leave the two-point gap that currently stands.
But defeat for the Marston Road club, coupled with a Hyde win, and the fight to stay in the division will be over.
In that scenario, even a draw could all-but-do-it for Hyde, thanks to their better goal difference of 10.
It’s, at best, a must-not-lose for Rangers and Elliott has injury problems going into the game.
It looks like Alex Forde’s season is over with the hamstring strain that has kept him out for the last six games, while Tyree Clarke is a big doubt after missing Tuesday’s defeat to Eastwood with an ankle injury.
Jermaine Johnson and Marco Adaggio are also nursing ankle knocks, while Craig Reid has a hamstring niggle.
But, whatever team takes to the field tomorrow, Elliott is expecting Rangers to go for the kill.
He said: “We need two last, big, charges to pull something out of the hat for us. We would be foolish to go gung-ho but we don’t want to settle for a draw.
“We don’t need to attack from the start but, certainly at some stage, we will need to force the issue. We will be looking to get people forward, regularly and often.
“Corby will be aware of our situation and, perhaps, they will have their own tactics to employ.”
UK Sport
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