Danny Hussey has challenged his red-hot Holbeach United players to ruffle the feathers of the Uhlsport UCL Premier Division’s big guns.
The Tigers have won their last five games on the bounce in all competitions and are sitting pretty in fifth place – ten points behind leaders Shepshed Dynamo with a game in hand.
While Hussey doesn’t feel his in-form side can mount a title charge, he does want them to try and prove him wrong and get themselves into the reckoning for the business end of the season.
The Tigers chief also revealed that he’d seen an interview with Quorn (second place) manager Martin Carruthers, who didn’t list Holbeach among the top teams in the division.
With that in mind, Hussey is keen for his black and yellows to keep ‘punching above their weight’.
“The league is really interesting at the moment,” said the Tigers supremo.
“A few results went our way on Saturday and it is looking tight.
“There are quite a few teams up there, but it was interesting to see that Martin (Carruthers) didn’t mention us in the same bracket as the others.
“I don’t really know what to make of that. I don’t really have an inkling that we are going to win the title this year, but we’re certainly fourth on merit.
“All we can do is keep doing what we’re doing and keep going blow for blow with these so-called bigger clubs that are outspending us. Even though I don’t think we can win the league, I certainly want us to be in the mix and stay in the pack at the top.
“We’re playing some really good stuff at the moment, the challenge is to keep that going and be in the hunt at the top when it matters.”
This Saturday sees Holbeach – who are four points behind second-placed Quorn with three games in hand – welcome 17th-placed Desborough Town (who lost 12-0 at Rugby Town on Tuesday) to Carter’s Park (3pm).
Hussey has pretty much a full squad at his disposal and has called upon the club’s fans to turn out in greater numbers to support his side’s charge up the table.
The Tigers have struggled to attract people to their games this season, with just 56 fans attending their last home game – albeit it a cup game on Wednesday night.
Hussey, who is taking nothing for granted against struggling Desborough, reckons that the style of football being played by his side merits better crowds.
He said: “It’d be really nice to see a few more faces on Saturday. We’ve really worked hard to change the style of play here and we’re now playing some great stuff.
“From the fans I’ve spoken to, the feedback has been great. It’d just be nice to see a bigger number; 100 would be brilliant.
“I’m pretty confident that anybody would comes to see us play won’t leave disappointed.
“We have to respect Desborough on Saturday, but we’ll look to attack them. We’re in good form and will be favourites, so it’s a good game for the fans to come and see.”
Defender Luke Wilson should be fit to return for Holbeach, but Joe Smith (hamstring) remains a doubt.
Long-term absentee Michael Frew is still some way off a return but could be back in contention the fold for the festive fixtures at the end of next month.
