With our match against Chelmsford postponed in midweek, Gary Johnson made some amendments to the team’s preparations ahead of the trip to Billericay.
“We changed our day off because we didn’t have a game, we trained, and we trained match orientated,” explained Johnson.
“We did a lot of work because that was a good day to do it, and on Thursday we did our organisation. They came in Wednesday and worked hard. We put them through their paces a little bit, and I think they all got the disappointment out of their system as well straight away. It was good, nice and competitive training. Nobody got injured, nobody got hurt and it was a good day for us. Straight after we knew that game was off, we had to start thinking about this game at Billericay because we knew it was going be a difficult period.
“We have some big games at the moment, some key games coming up now. They’re all six pointers now because when you look at the league table, we look ok, we’ve done well to get up there and we would like to stay up there if we can. Other teams, as you’ve seen, are putting everything into their game to beat us, it’s a feather in their cap to beat us. It’s alright everyone saying they are the best team in the league, but you’ve got to perform like the best team in the league against the other teams that are very good, that have got their game going and have got good form.
“Billericay have lost to East Thurrock, we can understand that having been there ourselves. With the changes, I think they have got over their quite big drop in form a month or two ago. They’ve got over that now and are picking up results, they will see themselves as coming back into the competition.”
Last Saturday, an amazing set of results saw no team in the top half of league secure victory – proof again that no team can be taken lightly.
“The first worry is yourselves, we’ve got to make sure we keep our form and we hit form. The other day against Weston we didn’t win but we did create a lot of opportunities that I don’t’ think we’d miss again, I think that was a one-off. So while you’re still creating chances, especially when we’ve scored in most games previously, and scored quite a few, then we don’t have to panic right now. We’ve just got to keep doing what we are doing and understand there’s only 10 games to go. Whoever you’re playing, when there’s seven play off places, everyone at this stage still feels they are in with a shout. They’re either in with a shout for the play-offs or automatic promotion, or they’re fighting relegation. As we saw on Saturday, fighting relegation can be a very powerful tool for the teams at the bottom, they’ve got nothing to lose, and that’s why some of them are getting some decent results.”
Looking to Saturday, Johnson is only too aware that his side face a big test against one of the strongest squads in the division.
“What they’ve got is an experienced team, a team that’s been around a little bit. Obviously the new regime has come back in and gone back to what they were doing. They change their shape a little bit from week to week, and sometimes from game to game, situation to situation. You can’t exactly judge what shape they’re going to play etc, but they’ve got some decent players and I can understand their manager wanting to play substitutes – next week somebody comes out the team, somebody off the bench comes into the team, he’s got a good squad that I’m sure they all want to play.”
Ahead of the trip to Essex, the Gulls boss reports no new injury concerns amongst the squad.
“We could have Jamie Sendles-White back, we are going to see how he preforms today. I’m pleased really, as it was a competitive training session on Wednesday. I did the session with both of my fingers crossed on both hands! We came through it well, we had a couple of meetings with the lads, and hopefully they are going to be ready for it and understand the importance of the next three of four games.”
National League South | Billericay Town FC | New Lodge, Blunts Wall Road, Essex CM12 9SA | 09/03/19 |
Tickets for this match can be purchased in advance, further details can be found here
The Travel Club will be running a coach for supporters wishing to make the journey, further details can be found here