BOSS Brendan Kelly has warned Bromsgrove Sporting they cannot afford to take third-bottom Kempston Rovers lightly if they wish to come away with three points tomorrow (Saturday).
The Rouslers, who sit two points behind Peterborough Sports following the 4-3 victory against the league leaders last Saturday, know trips to teams battling at the wrong end of the table can be potential banana skins.
Brendan Kelly’s men, though, have not faltered against teams in the bottom half so far, having taken 25 points from a possible 27.
The only blot on their record against teams in the bottom ten was a 0-0 draw away at Aylesbury back in September.
Bromsgrove Sporting’s record versus teams in the bottom ten:
Aug 18 – AFC Dunstable (A) – Won 3-1
Aug 21 – Kidlington (H) – Won 11-0
Sept 1 – Aylesbury United (H) – Won 5-1
Sept 22 – Aylesbury (A) – Draw 0-0
Oct 8 – Dunstable Town (H) – Won 1-0
Oct 13 – Bargate Rovers (A) – Won 3-0
Nov 3 – Yaxley (H) – Won 2-1
Nov 10 – North Leigh (A) – Won 5-1
Nov 17 – Aylesbury (H) – Won 5-0
Kempston are just two points above the drop zone and have only won four times this season.
They also have the worst home record in the division, having picked up just three points from a possible 21.
Despite Kempston’s poor form, Kelly is taking nothing for granted.
“Stats go out the window in games like this because when teams in the bottom play a side in the top-three or top-four they raise their game,” he added.
“Teams near the bottom see games like this as an opportunity to just have a go so it’s important our mindset is where it needs to be.
“Kempston are scrapping for points at the bottom but we’re scrapping for them at the top and there’s no doubting the quality we have.
“I am sure managers of teams we have faced have been speaking to Kempston so they’ll know what we’re all about.
“However, it’s important we just focus on ourselves and make sure we have the correct mental strength.”
The 4-3 victory against Peterborough, which came courtesy of a stoppage-time strike from William Shorrock, was followed up with a 3-2 defeat to Worcester City in the semi-finals of the Worcestershire Senior Urn on Tuesday night.
REPORT – Bromsgrove Sporting 4-3 Peterborough Sports
REPORT – Worcester City 3-2 Bromsgrove Sporting
With a number of players handed a chance to impress, Kelly was far from pleased with the display and did not hold back in his assessment of the players.
He singled out defender Louis Hall and goalkeeper Jonathan Brown as the only players to come away with some form of credibility.
“It was a massive reality check for the lads who are trying to get in my head and the team,” he added.
“I cannot understand how we can play like the way we did against Peterborough and then 48 hours later we play so poorly against Worcester.
“I was massively disappointed because I made six changes to the starting XI and nobody took their chance.
“The performance against Worcester is something that won’t be accepted and I’ll be looking for a big reaction from the lads at Kempston.”
