Backs to future for Boro as young defenders show the way
“IF you don’t concede goals then you don’t lose matches – simple.”
The statement may be obvious, but that does not make it any less true, as Boro defender Niall Heaton pointed out last weekend.
The former Liverpool youngster, who has also played for Alfreton in his young career, has been a major part of a Nuneaton defence that has now gone three games without conceding.
He added: “It’s a solid foundation and one you need if you want to be successful.
“If you don’t concede you don’t lose. If we do our part as a defence then it takes the pressure off the guys going forward. It gives us something to build on.
“That is something Dino Maamria has got us working on. He wants to make us hard to beat. He said about the goals we were conceding early in the season and we have worked hard to become harder to play against.
“We are seeing the results of that now as we are on the back of a four-game unbeaten run, and have not conceded in the last three of them. If that continues there is only one way we are going this season and that is up the table.” The strange thing about the recent run the Boro have been on is the fact that they have done it without a defender over the age of 21. Heaton said: “In this league that is crazy.
“We are playing in a league that has a fair few big guys up front, ones that you expect experience will be vital in when you play against them.
“But we have me, Ryan Johnson, Luther Wildin and Kennedy Digie, all under 21 and getting it done. Infact I think I’m the oldest and that says a lot.
“We get on as a group and that is a big part of it. We all trust each other, but it is more than that.
“We stay disciplined and I am not saying we are all there yet in terms of finished article, but we are learning and we are showing that we are not fazed by anything we face.”
That statement will be tested over the next few weeks, though, as Heaton and the Boro travel north in back-to-back games to take on Stockport County and then Spennymoor Town.
Both teams have play-off aspirations this season and for Heaton it is a big chance for Nuneaton to make their mark on the league this season.
He said: “They are big games for us, especially as they are both away from home.
“It is not going to make it easy as we have been so much better at home than away this year, but it is a challenge we are up for.
“If we can keep this little run we are on going I am sure people will be talking about us and what we are trying to do here.”
If you don’t concede you don’t lose. If we do our part as a defence then it takes the pressure off the guys going forward.