BOSS Brendan Kelly warns Bromsgrove Sporting need to focus on getting the basics right if they want to overcome a ‘dangerous’ Yaxley.
The Rouslers welcome the Cambridgshire outfit to the Victoria Ground on Saturday as they bid to get back to winning ways in Southern League Division One Central following back-to-back defeats for the first time at this level.
Kelly’s men suffered a 5-1 reverse at Bedford Town followed by a confidence-crushing 6-0 loss to high-flying Corby Town just four days later.
And the Sporting boss is targeting a speedy response in the league after being knocked off top spot by Corby but warned 14th-placed Yaxley will be no pushovers.
“It’s a dangerous game for us because they’re a real threat going forward and they knocked Corby out the FA Trophy,” Kelly told the Standard.
“Yaxley have scored a lot of goals but they’ve also shipped a lot of goals too so we know they can be leaky at the back.
“It’s a case of we shall have to wait and see which Yaxley turns up, the free-scoring one or the one which concedes a lot of goals.
“However, we just need to focus on ourselves and make sure we get the fundamental things right because if we do that, the difficult things become easier.
“It’s very important we try and win the game because there are some winnable fixtures on the horizon.
“I’ve got a full squad to select from and I’ve got plenty of headaches trying to pick my squad of 16 let alone a starting XI.”
Sporting head into the game on the back of yesterday’s (Tuesday) confidence-boosting 5-0 victory over Stourport Swifts in the Worcestershire Senior Urn.
Richard Gregory (2), Will Shorrock (2) and Cameron Peters bagged the goals at Walshes Meadow.
It was the perfect tonic after two heavy league defeats and Kelly believes success in the county cup will help get the players’ mindsets back where they need to be.
“These lads want to get the best out of each other but to have conceded 11 goals in two games it was an unknown feeling for them,” he said.
“Stourport was a great chance to just go back to basics and get some confidence back among the group.
“The atmosphere on Tuesday night was much better and the dressing room was back to the one we all know and love.
“We talk a lot about character and it’s something which needs time to work on as it won’t fix itself overnight.
“It’s important that the experienced players pull the team through when we go behind so we don’t go into our shell.”
