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General Category => Altrincham FC First Team => Topic started by: Darren on April 01, 2009, 07:00:52 PM
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Heathcote urges his players to 'wise up'
12:23pm Wednesday 1st April 2009
GRAHAM HEATHCOTE has warned his Altrincham players to 'wise up' or risk being dragged into the thick of the Blue Square Conference relegation battle.
Concerned at the way more points slipped away at Ebbsfleet on Tuesday night, the Alty boss has challenged his injury-ravaged squad to face up to the growing threat to their Conference place before it is too late.
Pipped 1-0 by lowly United, just three days after being pegged back by a late equaliser against Crawley, he is demanding a positive response at Lewes on Saturday and against Eastbourne at Moss Lane next Tuesday.
“The players have got to wise up a bit, because they are not showing enough respect for some of the teams they are up against in this league,” he said.
“Ebbsfleet were fourth from bottom, but I stressed before the game that they were a decent side with some very decent players.
“I just wonder whether some players who are new to this level of football are not clued up enough to the sort of battle they are in.
“There are two relevant points here that we need to take on board quickly. Firstly, someone down at the bottom always gets out of trouble, and, secondly, some mid-table team always gets dragged into it.
'We look like being the mid-table team in danger, unless we wise up. When we perform as we can, I don't fear anyone in the league, but you can't turn it on and off like a tap. If we are in the mix, going into the final week, it is going to be very difficult to suddenly turn it on.
“Despite warnings, we were complacent after going 3-0 up against Weymouth and complacent against Forest Green, when we got a hiding after being 2-0 in front. That has got to stop.”
Rod Thornley, Alex Frost, Pat McFadden and Ben Deegan have been signed on non-contract forms but can only play when not required by their club Ashton United. They will be needed as cover after skipper Robbie Lawton injured his back at work earlier this week and spent the night in hospital.
Heathcote was still trying to contact him today to discover if he will be fit for Saturday.
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