By Tom Paterson & Arandeep Singh Dhillon
Hyde travel to Lincoln City on Saturday still waiting for their first win of the season following their fourth straight league defeat on Tuesday.
Scott McNiven’s side remain bottom of the table with two points from their 11 league games this season.
Speaking after the 2-0 defeat to Salisbury McNiven said that his side need a shakeup.
“We might need to have a massive shake up,” he said.
“I think maybe a couple of lads are in their comfort zones and not pushing themselves like they were last season.
“Everybody says it’s a fine line between success and failure and at the minute we’re failing because we’re not pushing to make ourselves better.”
One positive note for the team is the signing of Martin Devaney who was released by Skrill rivals Kidderminster Harriers.
Over a 14-year career the midfielder has racked up 400 appearances in the Football League and McNiven hopes his presence can give the players a boost.
“Hopefully new signing Martin Devaney can give us a big boost with his experience and his talking, he’s a great lad and hopefully he’ll come and improve us.”
Altrincham are in FA Cup action away at Trafford in the second qualifying round, with Lee Sinnott’s men looking to build on the win over Gloucester that took them to third place in the league.
“We are looking to go into the FA Cup and have a decent run at it like we did last season. We will show them respect in the way we prepare for them and the message to the players is get the job done,” said Sinnott.
Stockport County, without a win in three, are also in FA Cup action at home to Brighouse Town. Brighouse play three levels below County and the Yorkshire side finished runners-up in their league last season.
County Chief Executive Ryan McKnight felt that the tie would bring in a good crowd.
“It’s an important competition for us and it’s a really good tie. They’ll be delighted that they’ve drawn Stockport County and I’m sure we’ll be able to get a decent crowd in, looking at the previous FA Cup attendances here,” he said.
There are also many crucial FA Cup 2nd round qualifying games for the teams in the Evo-Stik Premier and North Premier division as Ashton travel to AFC Fylde hoping to bounce back from their midweek defeat.
The two clubs have scored 40 goals between them in the league and joint Ashton boss Steve Halford will be hoping his side can add to that tally as he hopes to earn victory which would help the club financially.
“Anything can happen but our main objective is to be in the hat. We’re going to give it our best shot, he said.
First Division North table-toppers Curzon Ashton welcome Lancaster City in the cup but, after being eliminated to Chorley, FC United welcome Whitby Town to Gigg Lane in a Northern Premier Division encounter.
Image courtesy of Rambler1977, with thanks
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