Heed boss seeking comforts of home
GATESHEAD have the chance to get back on track over the next four days when they host Maidstone United and Harrogate Town.
The Stones are first up on Saturday, the Kent outfit parting company with popular manager Jay Saunders earlier this week.
Saunders departed after seven years and three promotions at the Gallagher stadium.
Former Margate manager Steve Watt will be in caretaker charge on Tyneside, with Maidstone having only two wins from the first seven games.
Gateshead started off sensationally with three straight wins in the first week but are without a victory in their last four fixtures.
Newcomers Harrogate are at the International Stadium on Tuesday and Heed boss Steve Watson is targeting a maximum return.
Watson said: “We can compete with most teams in the league and could be a lot higher up than we are.
“Nobody has outplayed or really outfought us.
“The mistakes we have made have been our own doing – a little bit of naivety and game management.
“Our overall performances have been quite consistent.
“It is very early days. There are 39 games left and it is a marathon of a season.
“There will be a lot of twists and turns and all we can focus on are two home games where we hope to get right back on track.”
Home comforts are now on offer for the mid-table Tynesiders, who are just two points from the play-offs after an encouraging opening month. An upbeat Watson added: “We have not been beaten at home and have picked up good results against Dover and Salford. “Maidstone have not started the way they would want to and they have changed managers – we all know what effect that can have. “This will be every bit as dangerous and as difficult a game to prepare for as Salford, Dover or Orient. “The league position can be a bit false at this stage and it does not start to even itself out until between 1 0 and 15 games. “If we can pick up six points this week things will look a lot better and that is what we have to believe we can do.” Ex-Newcastle defender Mike Williamson was the only absentee at Halifax, the 34-year-old troubled by a groin injury. Tomorrow will be a showdown between two in-form strikers – Heed hit man Luke Armstrong and the Stones’ Blair Turgott, who have both scored five goals.
We can compete with most teams in the league and could be a lot higher up than we are Steve Watson