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Jay's Pre-Match Briefing

Jay Saunders_2

The Angels travel to Arbour Park to face the Rebels. Bring your sun hats and plenty of water.

It's six years since we won our first two league games, but Jay Saunders is keeping firmly feet on the ground after our fantastic win at Weymouth.

Slough are the opponents in the second of three away games to start the campaign, a game Jay knows won't be easy.

"I've known their managers Neil Baker and Jon Underwood a long time. They've done an unbelievable job each year, their signings are always good, such as John Goddard who I knew from Bromley.  They haven't got off to the ideal start, they'll be looking for a response and we will have to be at our best to get a positive result.

"It's a good start, but it's only that.  You want to build on it and it's great for us to get those first three points but people have got to remember we're a new squad, we're not going to be great every week, we have to build and get used to each other, although as starts go it was pretty perfect."

After winning at Weymouth, will Jay be tempted to stick with a line-up close to the side that won in Dorset?  Or is he the sort of manager who treats each game differently?

"The higher you go, and when we've got the squad we have, we'll pick players who are effective for that game and this is something we've looked at.  So we'll pick a side to win this game.  We're still without Manny (Maja), he'll be back available for the Dover game.  Ben Swift is back in training, Mason Saunders-Henry trained this week, so we'll look at it and make a decision.  

Something which might come into consideration is the heat, with some forecasts suggesting temperatures could be in the mid-30s during the game.

"It's not ideal, I see some clubs are asking to move the kick off time later, and I know that has been talked about but I understand that's been refused.  It'll be tough, it's the same for both sides.  We have to travel well and look after the boys.  It's going to take a lot out of the boys so the squad for the next couple of games will come into play."




Published Friday 12th August 2022