Men's football news
Written by: Joe
Tony Russell has tasked his side with converting draws into victories as Lewes FC seek to return to winning ways against Potters Bar on Tuesday evening.
The Rooks are unbeaten in eight games (over 90 minutes) having drawn six of those, but exited the FA Trophy at the weekend via a penalty shootout defeat to Bognor Regis.
Sitting 11th and with games in hand over other Isthmian Premier League teams, Russell knows three points would be well earned against table-toppers Potters Bar this midweek.
Reflecting back on the current run of form, he said: “There are too many draws in there which is frustrating, and we know what we’ve got to improve on.
‘Games coming thick and fast’
“We’ve got to be better in the final third. But what was important on Saturday was that we enjoyed it and expressed ourselves, despite injuries affecting our selection.
“We’ve played a lot of games recently when oppositions have just put men behind the ball and we’ve had to be patient. But we knew on Saturday that Bognor would come and try to press us high, which would give us opportunities, and that’s what happened.
“We work in training about pressing these types of teams and getting opportunities that way too, and we did just that. I enjoyed it.
“We’ve got a lot of games coming up and first up we need to focus on Potters Bar. We tried our best to get the result on Saturday, and it was amazing to hear our fans in full voice.
“But we have to move on and concentrate on Tuesday, as cliche as that sounds, and get this squad back together. We gave it our best out there and a penalty shootout’s a penalty shootout.”
Reflecting on Bognor
Russell also reflected on the 2-2 draw with Bognor that forced Saturday’s shoot-out at the Dripping Pan, adding: “I thought it was a really good game and credit to Bognor Regis for coming here and adding to that.
“We’ve scored two and yet their keeper Toby Steward has got man of the match after making three unbelievable saves. I remember speaking to (Portsmouth manager) Danny Cowley and he said he had a young keeper on loan at Bognor who is going to be the real deal. I got to see that with my own eyes.
“The one-vs-one in the first half when he blocks Joe Taylor, and then the second one when he stops Razz, it showed his class.
“He was very good but I thought we edged the game in terms of chances. It was a great game considering both teams have so many injuries – we both had to change things around. That made the game a bit more end-to-end because some players out there were rusty. It was a spectacle that’s for sure.”
Focus on Potters Bar
The fixtures continue to come thick and fast, with the Rooks now preparing for Tuesday’s trip to table-toppers Potters Bar.
They beat Haringey 2-1 on Saturday to move a point clear at the top of the table, with Kasim Aidoo bagging both goals.
Last season the Rooks played secured a 3-1 win at Potters Bar in the final days of the summer, with Joe Taylor scoring a second-half hat trick to secure the points for the visitors.
A few months later Lewes hosted Potters Bar at the Dripping Pan and suffered a 5-1 defeat that Russell would later describe as “not good enough” from his side.
Tuesday’s match kicks off at 7:45pm at The Lantern Stadium.