'No friends' in No.9 Derby as Darryl Knights hopes win could kickstart Stourbridge's season

The Glassboys have had a difficult start to the new campaign, sitting 19th in the Southern Central Premier, eight points adrift of safety. Tomorrow, they welcome Halesowen Town for El Busico - the No.9 Derby - named after the bus route connecting the two towns.

Stourbridge boss Knights is close friends with Yeltz boss Russell Penn, whom he played alongside at Kidderminster Harriers. However, he insists that friendship will be set aside come matchday.

“I get on with Russ really well, but come Saturday there will be no friends,” admitted Knights.

“It will be all about securing the three points and bragging rights.

“I am really excited, I have played in it before and the atmosphere is unbelievable, for both teams. The fans get right behind you, it’s brilliant.

“It could kickstart our season as well. We have done well but just not getting the wins so we could really use that to kickstart our season.

“It’s massive for the fans and us as a team, especially with the situation we are in and being back at home, it is a good opportunity for us to put a performance on.

“The fans were brilliant last weekend and really drove us.”

Stourbridge are winless in their last 10 league games, having earned just four points during that run. On Tuesday, they were beaten 3-2 by Worcester City, their eighth league loss of the season so far.

Meanwhile, Halesowen sit in eighth place, two points shy of the play-offs, after a 2-0 victory over Alvechurch in midweek. The Yeltz have lost just once in their last six league games.

Boss Penn said: “He will be looking to do everything he can to win, but so will we. There is a lot of respect, we are good friends, so I am looking forward to it. 

“I don’t care whether Stourbridge are fighting in a relegation battle or if we are fighting for the play-offs, it doesn’t matter on the day. It is about who performs best and is emotionally switched on to win the game. 

“You have to put all the emotions aside and concentrate on your own game because it can very quickly run away from you in these derby games. Form goes out of the window tomorrow. 

“You have to try and take the emotions away from it as a manager because it is only three points. But, when you have friends and neutrals, I coach in Stourbridge as well, 

“I know a lot of people, both chairman’s well, and it is big bragging rights. You don’t want to be on the wrong end of it, trust me.”