Workington manager Danny Grainger isn’t taking notice of the fact that Reds completed a league double over Runcorn Linnets ahead of their promotion play-off game tomorrow.
The Linnets actually won at Borough Park in the FA Trophy and have improved over the last couple of months since Billy Paynter was put in charge.
Grainger and Paynter were team-mates at Carlisle United in 2014 and this play-off final will be different to any of the previous clashes this season.
“Form goes out of the window in these one-off games but I know Billy has got them solid and organised when previously they had been inconsistent.
“They are a good side, as that win at Leek on Tuesday showed, who can play football and don’t give much away. It’s going to be a tough game.
“But as I’ve said many times if we turn up and are at it we are a match for anyone. We had a very good training session last night and the players are in good form. We are unbeaten at Borough Park since Macclesfield won here in February,” said Grainger.
The Reds boss will be waiting for a late assessment of Sam Smith’s groin strain. The central defender missed Tuesday’s win over Clitheroe and has been improving all the time since then.
Smith has had ankle issues in the past but says this is the first time that he’s had a groin strain to contend with.
Grainger is also looking for another big crowd to get behind his team and lift them to promotion.
“That was fantastic on Tuesday night and was really appreciated by the players. They deserve that sort of backing for their effort over the season and it would be great to top the 1,665 who were in for that,” he said.
Runcorn Linnets, who finished fifth in the table, were beaten in last year’s final by Marine. Their last appearance at Borough Park saw them beaten 2-1 with Reds scoring twice at the end in time added on.
They have already filled three supporters coaches and expect many more to travel by car.
