Salford City will have to make a dramatic improvement on last week’s performances if they are to beat Ramsbottom United tomorrow evening.
In the space of just seven day The Ammies have dropped from league title favourites to play-off contenders, after dropping eight points to leaders Blyth Spartans in January alone.
Salford find themselves in third in the Evo-Stik Northern Premier but with Aston United and Darlington 1883 having games in hand, tomorrow’s match at Moor Lane is still considered a must win.
It was clear after the Frickley draw that joint manager Anthony Johnson was looking forward to meeting his former club and putting the disappointment of last weekend behind him: “It’s great to have a game in the next two or three days to get it out of our system,” he said.
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A win on Tuesday would move Salford up to second and switch the pressure from The Ammies to Workington FC if they lose against Blyth tomorrow evening.
Last Saturday’s draw has convinced Salford co-managers Bernard Morley and Anthony Johnson to change their attacking line up, with star strikers Gareth Seddon and Danny Webber looking set to get the nod over recent signing Josh Hine and suspended Jordan Hulme.
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Speaking after the Frickley Athletic game, Johnson said: “we’ve got five forwards, but with James Poole and Hulme starting his suspension we’ll have to make changes anyway, but we’re confident no matter which forwards we play we can get the goals.”
Tomorrow’s game also represents the first time Johnson and Morley play their former club, where they had considerable success, turning The Rams from stalwarts of the North West Counties league, into a competent Evo-Stik Premier side.
Since the dynamic duo left however, the honeymoon has ended for the Lancashire side, who currently sit at the foot of the table and are odds-on favourites for relegation.
Unsettled Rammy have not won a game in their last five.
And Tuesday’s trip will be their sixth consecutive away match after the bout of flooding that hit many northern clubs.
The pitch at the Harry Williams Riverside Stadium lived up to its name on Boxing Day, when it was submerged under three feet of water.
Ramsbottom will be hoping to sparkle at Moor Lane to take the edge off a particular wet run of form.
Kick-off at Moor Lane is at 7.45pm on Tuesday 2 February.
Main image by Charlotte Tattersall (@SalfordFCPhotos)
