The Wood are on the road again this Saturday, September 22 (3pm), when we travel Salford City in the National League. Here’s our preview…
Match Details
Tickets are available to purchase on the gate at Salford City.
Away fans are normally housed on one side of the East Terrace (aka the School End) at one end of the ground. In addition, 200 seats are made available to visiting supporters in the South Stand, at no extra cost to the entrance fee.
Team News
Luke Garrard has no fresh injury concerns going into the game.
Angelo Balanta and Reeco Hackett-Fairchild were forced off against Sutton United on Tuesday, but are expected to be fit for selection on Saturday.
Gozie Ugwu joined on loan from Chesterfield today and is available for selection on Saturday.
Form Guide
The Wood made it four wins in their last five league matches, when they beat Sutton United 4-0 away from home on Tuesday night.
The excellent performance was kick-started by Angelo Balanta in just the third minute.
Keiran Murtagh and Justin Shaibu both added to the tally to make in 3-0 inside of 23 minutes.
Joshua Umerah confirmed the win in the second half with his fourth goal this season, to cap off a superb display.
The victory over Sutton means that the Wood are unbeaten in six league matches, while goalkeeper Ryan Huddart has kept four clean sheets in five matches.
Managed by 46-year-old Graham Alexander, Salford City are one of the division’s inform sides, with four wins from their last five.
They are unbeaten in their last eight games and currently sit in fourth place in the National League.
One to Watch – Adam Rooney
The 30-year-old forward was The Ammies’ marquee summer signing, joining from Scottish Premier League side Aberdeen for an undisclosed fee.
Rooney has already netted seven times this season for Alexander’s side and is fast becoming one of the division’s most feared strikers.
The former Republic of Ireland Under 21 international has Europa League pedigree, having featured in the competition for Aberdeen. He scored six times in just four games in the Europa League.
Rooney left Aberdeen with 88 goals from 197 matches and will be key for the home side on Saturday.
From the Dugout – Luke Garrard
“They are good, they are very good, and I think that they are starting to click.
“They haven’t been beaten in their last eight games and they have personnel in their team who could get into any side in this division.
“I believe that they have got a manager who plays a style and system that suits them, and they have got two superb forwards who I think walk into any team at this level.
“You have got the class of 92 behind the scenes and I have never had the luxury of working alongside the manager [Graham Alexander], so it will be nice to pit my wits against him.
“Again, I keep saying it and it is my stock line, but it is about what we do and how we go about our business.
“I have said to the lads never too high, never too low, because I have got to stem them in terms of the 4-0 result [over Sutton United].
“There is a confidence from that, but there is a fine line between that and arrogance and I won’t allow that to creep into my group.”
