Workington Reds manager Danny Grainger is looking for his players to find their lost spark tomorrow when they host Stafford Rangers in the NPL Premier Division.
“We have lost a bit of confidence with recent results, and they are coming here on the back of two wins so will feel confident.
“But I’m looking forward to the game and it will be up to myself and Terri to get the lads up and ready for it. We have lost our spark but we can find it again.
“We are a couple of lads down tomorrow but the players are digging in and we will be looking for a win. It’s tough at the moment but things will settle down when we get down to playing Saturday to Saturday.
“I think the league has kicked on a bit since the Reds were last in it and talking to supporters after the game on Tuesday I think they are understanding about that,” said Grainger.
Stephen Rigg will be available again after suspension but Grainger has a couple of injury concerns which could well keep them out of the contest.
After losing their first two games, both 2-0, against Lancaster City and Warrington Rylands, tomorrow’s visitors have followed-up with wins against Basford United (2-1) and FC United of Manchester (3-2).
Reds made an impressive start to life in NPL Premier with a 5-0 home win over Ashton United before successive defeats at Morpeth (3-0), Ilkeston (6-1) and home to Radcliffe (4-1).
Grainger has been trying desperately to bring in new blood to strengthen the squad and reckons that at least 21 players have turned hi down.
“As soon as they look at the map and see where Workington is they say no. A lot have said that if we were located in Manchester they would sign right away. That’s what we have been up against but keep on looking.
“I am increasingly confident that I have a player lined-up, for maybe a fortnight’s time, who could make a big difference to us,” he said.
Taylor Bowen, a 17-year-old forward has joined on an open-ended youth loan from Blackpool and got 30 minutes at the end of Tuesday’s game with Radcliffe. Reds’ other loanee, Kofi Moore from Oldham, scored the goal of the game.
