Tough tests are perfect for Jim
COUNTY boss Jim Gannon says his side are getting “better and better” as the National League season draws ever closer – with County seeing off two more National League North outfits this week in pre-season action.
A resounding 5-1 win over Guiseley at Nethermoor on Tuesday evening was followed up by a solid 1-0 win over last season’s beaten play-off contestants York City at Bootham Crescent, with Gannon’s men making it five successive pre-season victories in the process.
A trip originally scheduled for Tuesday evening (22nd September) to Chorley was cancelled earlier in the week due to a reported positive Covid test for the home side, with The Hatters now set to conclude their pre-season schedule – and seek a sixth win in a row – with the visit of Kidderminster Harriers to Edgeley Park this coming Saturday (26th).
And manager Gannon believes that the clashes with established sixth tier sides over the past few weeks have proven a “tough test”, as County have sought to emulate away trips to ‘tricky’ National League outfits.
“Because of the circumstances, we’ve only been able to play National League North sides or lower in these last few weeks,” said Gannon.
“With that being the case, I wanted to know who would give us the toughest test – who would be the sides who’ve either been in the National League, or they’re fulltime in the National League North? I wanted it to feel like the likes of Torquay, Dagenham and Hartlepool away, and it did that at both Guiseley and York.”
After an unlikely firsthalf hat-trick from leftback James Jennings had set County on their way to that big win at Nethermoor last Tuesday evening, County went on to show their tough side in a gruelling win at York – believed to be the final ever fixture at Bootham Crescent.
Despite the pre-season tie being held behind closed doors with no live coverage due to the hosts’ concerns over fans seeking to attend Bootham Crescent for the final time, the match itself was largely bad-tempered and feisty – although Gannon relished the opportunity for his side to bare their teeth.
“I wanted to find out if my players could scrap it out and play ‘dirty’ football when needed – not in the sense of playing ‘nasty’ football, but rolling our sleeves up and doing the scruffy work. The only thing I was disappointed with was that we didn’t get a goal before we did – but I’m always happy with a clean sheet, and a 1-0 win from a set-piece,” he said.
“There’s bits for us to tidy up, bits that the lads need to work on themselves rather than relying on me. They took a few of the instructions from halftime and really implemented them after the break, and that’s what I’m looking for. “
Gannon was forced into changes for the trip to North Yorkshire on Saturday, with new boy wingback Macauley Southam
Hales dropping to the bench whilst still recovering from a slight knock, and young duo Jamie Stott and Harvey Gilmour both still absent with injuries.
Gilmour, currently on a short-term deal at Edgeley Park, and Stott are both doubts for Saturday’s clash with Kidderminster prior to the scheduled National League season kick-off a week on Saturday at Torquay, while Southam-Hales draws nearer to full fitness – but despite the knocks in the camp, Gannon believes the absences have demonstrated County’s newfound strength in depth.
“We’re getting Macauley back, Jamie and Harvey are working on it. Saturday was maybe one too soon to get Mac back in and we’ve got Sam Minihan who can play the full ninety in there on the right anyway,” he said.
“We understand the demands that are on the players, and they were really immense in keeping the clean sheet and dealing with the physicality on show. We’ve come out looking like a team who has the right answers when asked a question.
“All the lads know the kind of performance culture we’re after this season and beyond. It’s never going to be about eleven players, it’s going to be about the group – and whether you’re sat in the stands supporting, playing or coaching, we’ve all got a part to play. If the eleven on the pitch win, we all win.
“The players all understand that there’s competition here, and I think it’s great that they’re bringing the best and bringing that competition out of each other. The lads all know they’re part of a group and part of a project where it’s about the collective.
“It’s not a problem for me, because I know that any side of eleven I put out will be a really strong one, and that there’ll also be three substitutes to really strengthen us game-bygame.”