‘I don’t want to be doom and gloom’
Gosport boss Gale: No room here for any pessimists
Gosport Borough manager Shaun Gale made it clear there should be no reason for those in and around the club to be hitting the ‘doom and gloom button’.
And he stressed he does not anyone surrounding him to be expressing negative opinions after a sticky Southern League Premier South patch.
Despite a run of just one win in their past eight league outings, fifth-placed Gosport remain in the play-off places with 19 games left.
But Boro will definitely be hoping a new year can bring about a change in fortune following successive defeats to rock bottom Wimborne and Monday's home loss to 19th-placed Hartley Wintney.
Gale believes a New Year's Day triumph at Salisbury could provide a welcome kickstart as they head into 2022 bidding to maintain a play-off push.
The Boro boss said: ‘What I’m not going to do, it’s what most people want you to do, is press the doom and gloom button.
‘We’re fifth in the league; if I’m honest, when you look at our games and results - not once have I been able to put out the same team.
‘I’m constantly having to change the team, we try to keep the same system if we can.
‘You have to take it on the chin, it’s really difficult times, but as a football club 642 (supporters) came through the gate on Monday (against Hartley Wintney).
‘We’re fifth in the league, 10 points off second, going into a year with 19 games left to play.
‘There are loads of positives to take, anyone who wants to be doom and gloom, I don’t want them around me.
‘I’m a positive person and the lads will be positive, but we need to start winning football matches and that’s what it’s all about.’
Gosport's meeting with Salisbury earlier this season in the FA Trophy proved to be a feisty affair.
Boro had both defender Ryan Woodford and Gale shown red cards as things turned sour at Privett Park in the cup clash at the end of October.
But Gale says his sole focus is on coming away from Salisbury with a positive result - rather than reflecting on what's gone before.
He added: ‘I’m not interested in talking about the last meeting. I’ve got my own opinion on it - I think everyone who witnessed it has got their opinion.
‘I’m not interested, it’s a game of football first and foremost, we want and need to get a result in.
‘I’m not going to get dragged into the previous encounter, it’s an important game, Salisbury will want to win it as much as we want to win it.’
Boro are boosted by the return of captain Mike
Carter following his threegame suspension and defender Matt Briggs, who has been missing due to illness. Woodford, though, serves the second of a threegame ban for his red card at Wimborne. Meanwhile, Nick Dembele (ankle) and Bradley Tarbuck (hamstring) could be in contention to make welcome returns at Salisbury following injury lay-offs.
Steve Claridge’s Salisbury could include ex-Boro trio Charlie Kennedy, Charlie Davis and Sam Ashton, but defender Sam Roberts is serving the final game of a three-match ban. Another former Boro regular, keeper Pat O’Flaherty, has been on the bench in recent weeks.