No need to panic

2:32pm Thursday 21st February 2008

Comments (0)   Have your say »

Stourbridge RFC head coach Neil Mitchell has emphasised he will not be pushing the panic button after seeing his promotion-chasing side slip to defeat away at Blaydon.

Stour went down 29-20, but Mitchell is confident his team will get their push for a place in National League One back on track this Saturday when they welcome Westcombe Park to Stourton Park (3pm kick-off).

Mitchell said: "I was very disappointed because it was a game we should have won.

"For the first time we showed a little bit of complacency and allowed them to take 14-0 lead.

"Blaydon are a team in form but we should still have come away with something.

"We will not be panicking though because it's only one defeat in seven and I'm confident we will bounce back on Saturday and get our season back on track."

Mitchell believes the Westcombe Park fixture is the biggest challenge they have faced all season due to the promotion pressure the players have put on themselves and with this is in mind he is hopeful of having three of his more experienced players available for the fixture.

All-time record appearance maker Jon Hall is set for a return after weeks on the bench while Ben Gerry and Mark Eastwood are expected to recover from injury for the game.

Mitchell added: "Due to the position we have put ourselves in we have put a little bit more pressure on ourselves and therefore you need players who will stand up to that.

"This Saturday Jon Hall will definatly be involved and hopefully Ben and Barney will be too because we missed them last Saturday.

"They both play with a lot of passion and that's what every side needs."