Southport v AFC Telford preview: Liam Watson's side on surge
AFC Telford United will once again be reunited with their old title-winning boss Liam Watson tomorrow.
The Bucks are making the trip to Watson’s Southport, who they beat 1-0 on the opening day of the National North season.
It was a deserved win, courtesy of an Amari Morgan-Smith strike, for Gavin Cowan’s side at the New Bucks Head. But those of a Telford persuasion know they are set to be in for a more difficult test this time around.
After all, teams managed by Watson, who guided the Bucks to the National North crown in 2013/14, tend to start slow and gather steam in the second half of the campaign.
And that has been the story for the Sandgrounders.
Their loss to Telford was part of a four-match run of defeats to start the term with a whimper.
But they come into this encounter with just one defeat from their last eight games, which has seen them rise to 11th – seven points behind the play-off places.
For Cowan, the focus is on bouncing back from being beaten 1-0 by Kidderminster Harriers last weekend.
And when asked if there could be changes from that game, to cater for Southport’s more physical approach, he said: “Maybe. But we focus more on us.
“We have to go there and do what we can do, and I’m confident we can come away with a result.”
One of the changes Cowan could make is to bring Jon Royle, formerly of the Sandgrounders, back into midfield.
He was left out in favour of James McQuilkin against Harriers and, on that decision, the Bucks chief added: “Macca came in ahead of Jon on Saturday.
“I’m lucky, aren’t I? I’ve got a squad to pick from.
“I wanted to flip the midfield, and that’s Macca’s game, so it was the right decision. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out for us.”
Telford have another former Southport man in Ross White, who is expected to start on the left of the back three.
Top scorer Daniel Udoh is likely to be up front for tomorrow’s clash and Cowan has to decide whether to have Amari Morgan-Smith, Marcus Dinanga or Andre Brown alongside him.
Likely Telford XI: Bursik; Streete, Sutton, White; Barnett, Royle, Deeney, Knights, Daniels; Morgan-Smith, Udoh.
