Lowestoft face promotion rivals

Jonathan Redhead

Lowestoft Town joint boss Micky Chapman has urged his side to rediscover their consistency against one of their promotion rivals this afternoon.

The Blues have not been at their fluent best in recent games, although they did get back to winning ways in the Ryman League Division One North last Saturday with a 4-0 away win over basement boys Harlow Town.

Now Chapman wants his side to go on another run similar to the efforts which saw them go 20 league games unbeaten earlier this season.

And he is hoping a big crowd at Crown Meadow can assist the Blues against fourth-placed East Thurrock United.

“We have a big game against East Thurrock United, who are one of the better sides we've played against this year,” he said. “We beat them 2-1 at their place a few weeks ago but we know that they have players in their side who can hurt us.

“We will therefore need to make sure we are right, and will have to focus on ourselves as we take it one game at a time. We'll have to be at our best to get anything from the game.

“But we also know that if we turn up and do the right things we are capable of hurting them.

“It was important to keep a clean sheet on Saturday as we've been conceding some silly goals recently and have been having to come back in games - but we were really solid on Saturday and we'll be looking for more of the same.

“We know we now need to be consistent again, it is great when you put a run together but when it comes to an end you have to look to respond and that's what we've done in the last two games in the cup and league.

“Hopefully there will be a big crowd up there and they can make a difference by getting behind us and being very vocal.”

The Blues could welcome back Scott Mitchell, pictured, and Matt Halliday for the game against the Rocks, while Bradley Hough and Jack Marsden have continued their comebacks from injury with games in the reserves.