Heed focusing on climbing the league
GATESHEAD break new ground for the second consecutive week when they take on Maidenhead United in Berkshire tomorrow.
The Tynesiders met Chelmsford City for the first time last Saturday, winning 2-0 to progress to the second round of the FA Cup.
An attractive home tie against Luton Town on the first weekend of December awaits Steve Watson’s side. Another 2-0 win, at Leyton Orient last month, was a first competitive meeting between Gateshead and the O’s.
The Heed could do with making it a hat-trick of wins over new opponents when they lock horns with Maidenhead at York Road tomorrow.
Gateshead are in their lowest position since the first day of the season, 18th, while the Magpies are in mid-table.
With the play-off positions extended to seventh place the Heed are two wins away from sixth place and six points above the drop zone.
Two of Watson’s five games, only one of which has been lost, have been in the FA Cup.
Watson told the Chronicle: “We haven’t been at our best in the FA Cup wins over Buxton and Chelmsford but have got the job done.
“We’ve now got to put the cup to bed and concentrate on getting ourselves up the table.
“We have four important league games before we take on Luton at the International Stadium in December.
“If we can take double figures in points from those four games then we’ll go into the cup tie with real momentum.” Gateshead will have a problem at right-back tomorrow if Newcastle United loanee Callum Williams is ruled out due to injury. The young Magpie has been a regular at right-back since he joined the club five games into the season. The 20-year-old has a heel problem, likely replacement Theo Vassell missing due to illness, but Jamal Fyfield is back in the squad. “Williams’ injury is ongoing, but we hope he will be OK,” added Watson. “If not we’ve got a good squad and if someone comes in I’m confident they’ll do a good job.” Conference South champions Maidenhead have only lost twice at home, while Gateshead have just the one in the league on their travels.
We’ve now got to put the Cup to bed and concentrate on getting ourselves up the table Steve Watson