Rusk’s ‘special day’ as fans return to EP
COUNTY boss Simon Rusk is anticipating a “special day” at Edgeley Park this Saturday, with Hatters supporters set to finally return after a fourteen-month absence for this weekend’s National League clash with Woking.
Following the further easing of Covid-19 restrictions from this past Monday (17th May), around 2,000 County fans will be in attendance at Edgeley Park for the game against struggling Woking this Saturday – the penultimate league game of the regular season.
Following an absorbing 2-2 draw with promotion rivals Torquay
United at Edgeley Park on Sunday, however, Rusk’s side will not be playing for the National League title – with any lingering title hopes ended in the lively stalemate with the Gulls.
Goals either side of the break from Macauley Southam-Hales and Ash Palmer earned County a deserved draw after a Scott Boden brace for The Gulls, with a solitary point denting Gary Johnson’s remaining hopes of their own title success. League leaders Sutton now sit three points ahead of Torquay with a superior goal difference and two games remaining.
“I’m sure it’s one that the fans and the neutrals enjoyed – maybe not so much for the managers!
Both sides will feel they’ve had good enough moments to win it, the point is fair in the end, and I’m proud of how the players responded to going behind in the second half,” said Rusk.
“I will balance that pride with the fact that I was disappointed with the nature of the goals we conceded. We need to manage those situations far better, particularly when you’re on top in games.
“We were on top in the second half, and from nowhere, we get caught. To flip that around, we found a way back and could have won it, as could they.”
The entertaining affair, screened live on BT Sport, also extended County’s unbeaten record to sixteen games – equalling a club record across a single season.
After a sticky start to life at Edgeley Park, Rusk says he takes “great pride” in guiding his Hatters side on a lengthy undefeated streak ahead of the National League play-offs next month.
“I am proud of that achievement, but at the same time, I’m not going to get carried away,” explained Rusk.
“What makes me proudest is the work rate that’s going into that from the staff and the players.
“The main source of frustration for me during this run is that we haven’t been able to have supporters in, because I think the fans would really connect with this group of players, and hopefully with myself and the staff.”
Ahead of their scheduled return this coming Saturday, a couple of hundred Hatters supporters also gathered outside Edgeley Park prior to kick-off on Sunday to welcome their side to the stadium.
“It doesn’t surprise me; from everything I’ve heard about the fans here,” said Rusk.
“It’ll be a special feeling (on Saturday), and I really hope that we can continue to give the fans something that they’re really proud of here - that’s my number one goal.
“The make-up of the table and the permutations are always changing, but of course we’re happy that it’s back in our own hands. We wanted to be number one, everybody does, but we have to be positive about what we’ve been able to achieve and that our fate is in our own hands.
“I really feel for the football community, it’s such an important part of people’s lives and I’m genuinely really pleased that our fans will have that back in their lives this weekend. Long may that continue.”
Meanwhile, Rusk also added that Paddy Madden’s fitness will be “assessed on a daily basis”, following an injury blow to the Irishman in last Tuesday’s draw with Dagenham at Edgeley Park.
Madden was removed at half-time following an ankle injury in the stalemate, and was subsequently ruled out of Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Torquay – however Rusk noted only that a return for Madden in time for the National League play-offs is “within the realms of possibility”.