‘I hope Terriers keep improving - after Saturday’s game is over!’
Sunderland West End manager Steven Stewart wants his side to end their poor start to the season with a win against his former club Bedlington Terriers on Saturday.
West End kicked off the campaign on a high with a 2-0 winagainstWillingtonbutthat remains their only maximum of the season so far.
Stewart’smenhavesuffered three consecutive defeats after emerging empty-handed from visits to Prudhoe YC and BoldonCA,aswellastheirmidweek home game against Blyth Town.
All focus is now on making an improvement against Terriers - but Stewart believes his side will face a difficult challenge against the men from Northumberland.
He told The Echo: “We have a few missing so it will be atoughgame,butthenitalways is a tough game against Terriers. We know we need to turn this poor form around and we haven’t started the season as we wanted.
“Terriers have got a good footballing side and it’s going to be a difficult game.
“I know the club, I enjoyed my time up there but it’s maybe lost its way a bit over the last few years.
“They look as if they are improving, they have a lot of good young players and I hope they keep improving after Saturday’s game is out of the way.”
West End trio James Armstrong,DanMartin,BradMoncur are all injured but Craig Hubbard and Logan Herron
both return to contention.
Elsewhere on Saturday, Horden CW have a number of selectionissuesfortheirhome game with Washington as David Doughty, Kieron Campbell andJoshHome-Jacksonareall
set to miss out. Ewan Simpson will return to contention after recovering from injury.
Jarrow will hand a late fitnesstesttoDavidSmithbefore theirvisittoEasingtonColliery, and Chester-le-Street United are without the suspended Sam Johnson as they visit Brandon United.
Chester-le-Street Town will hope to avoid a third consecutive defeat when they host Willington, and Ryton and Crawcrook Albion travel to Teesside to take on Redcar Town.
Two sides currently sat in the top six meet at Stokesley Sports Club as Billingham Synthoniahostin-formBirtley
Town.
New signing Finlay Baty could feature in Prudhoe YC’s homegamewithEshWinning, and Liam Wotherspoon will miss Blyth Town’s home game with Boro Rangers.