Ashton: We have attitude to beat drop

JON Ashton may have more experience of fighting at the top of the table than the bottom – but the Boro assistant manager is adamant that this Nuneaton team have got what it takes to beat the drop.

A 1-1 draw at home to Curzon Ashton last weekend left Nuneaton three points adrift in the National League North relegation zone, and without a victory in their last five games.

Despite that Ashton – whose side have a break from the league when North Ferriby United come to town for an FA Trophy tie today – is sure that there is no reason to panic.

He said: “I am more used to winning leagues than being in this position, but I have had the occasional fight at the bottom. I know what it takes when you are down here – that is belief.

“We have that, you can see that in the performances if not the results of late. We have the confidence we can pull clear of danger. That is all we need.”

Ashton is still a player more used to life at the right end of the table, largely down to his spell at Stevenage where he was part of a club that rose from the Conference to the play-off spots in League One.

Ashton was one of the mainstays of that side, which had new Nuneaton boss Dino Maamria as the assistant boss.

For the veteran centre-back, Maamria is the right man to duplicate that success at Boro.

He said: “I knew the gaffer from there as he was the assistant and helped Stevenage rise up the leagues.

“A lot of that was down to the approach he had. He was very meticulous and he wanted every man to know his job. You are starting to see the guys at Nuneaton take from that. We are improving and if the guys believe in what the gaffer is saying the results will follow.”

And Maamria is relishing the opportunity to progress in this year’s FA Trophy.

“I am a big fan of the cups,” he said. “With the FA Trophy, we have a chance of Wembley. I will be picking my best 11, I treat every game like a cup final. We want to go far as we can.”

Boro last night confirmed the loan signings of Kyle McFarlane and Sky Blues youngster Darragh Leahy. Both will be available for today’s Trophy tie.

Striker McFarlane joins from Blues until January 2, while centre-half Leahy’s deal lasts until January 6.