Defeated Heed ready to hit the road again
GATESHEAD’S last game at the International Stadium for a month proved to be a damp squib as visitors AFC Fylde eased to a 2-1 win.
The Heed now face six consecutive away games – unless they bring Leyton Orient back to Tyneside for a quarter-final FA Trophy replay.
While disappointed to see his side’s eight game unbeaten run end limply, hitting the road holds no worries for manager Steve Watson.
He said: “I probably have a better record away from home since I havebeen here, so six away games is not daunting.
“Playing away for us does not hold any fears.
“We have six away games and I believe the lads are good enough to win all six.
“The reality is we can win every one and we go to Guiseley on Tuesday night with bouncing back in mind.”
Watson added: “It is very disappointing to play our last game at the International Stadium for a while and get a result like the one against Fylde.
“I put it down as just an off day and you cannot go in and tear strips off the players because they are an honest bunch.
“They give us everything but did not quite have the energy levels against Fylde – and there are a number of reasons for that.
“I am not an excuse-maker. We just were not good enough for half an hour and the last hour saw us playing catch-up.”
Injuries played their part against the Coasters, two of the Heed’s central defenders pulling out with calf injuries.
Scot Fraser Kerr suffered his in the warm-up and then captain Neill Byrne was unable to turn out for the second half.
Watson said: “I did not have any clue Kerr or Byrne were feeling an injury on Friday when they trained, so it was news to me.
“Everything which could go wrong probably did and we have to pick ourselves up and go again.”
Gateshead were all at sea in the opening 20 minutes and fell behind when Callum Williams provided the final touch to a low Jack Muldoon cross.
The Newcastle loanee, originally named as a substitute, was then beaten by Danny Rowe, who rifled home his 17th league goal of the campaign.
Coasters’ goalkeeper Jay Lynch made flying saves from Ben Fox, twice, and Wes York before Richard Peniket pulled a goal back in the dying seconds.
The striker’s close-range header four minutes into injury time was no more than a consolation, rock-bottom Guiseley next up for the Tynesiders.