Friday September 8, 2023...Preview: Nash Confident But Urges Caution as Four-Game Homestand Begins Against Valour
(from York United FC website)
PREVIEW: NASH CONFIDENT BUT URGES CAUTION AS FOUR-GAME HOMESTAND BEGINS AGAINST VALOUR
Buoyed by the road win in Halifax, The Nine Stripes are seeking a third straight victory.
For the second time this season, York United are chasing their third straight win in the Canadian Premier League.
Standing in their path at York Lions Stadium tonight are Valour FC - a side two places and 12 points behind The Nine Stripes
in the table.
Recent performances from the hosts have been convincing and Head Coach Martin Nash has been impressed with the output
of his players. He expects them to replicate those displays tonight.
In his pre-game press conference, The Gaffer said: "They've won both games since I said that the rest of the games
this season are cup finals. It's never going to be easy. I think everyone knows that anyone in this league can beat
anyone on their day. So, you have to come with your best effort in every game if you want to win."
"I think the guys have been responding in training. We've been training well; we've been playing better. We're really
close but we’ve got to keep improving and if we cut out some of these little mistakes, I think we're a dangerous team."
On paper, this fixture pits an in-form team against one that's been struggling for results recently. But, write off
Phil Dos Santos’ side at your peril.
Despite losing their last three matches including back-to-back reverse results on the road to Halifax Wanderers
and Pacific, Nash is refusing to take anything for granted.
"I'm trying to get our guys to focus on us and what we're going to bring to the game. We can’t really worry about the
other team and what they're going to bring if they come out on fire," he added.
"I have a feeling they're going to come out flying. They have too much pride in their team, coaching staff to just lie
down, even if they were out of the playoffs. I think they're going to come out fighting for three points and see what
happens right. We've got to be prepared for that. We've got to know we’re going to fight a battle. It's a massive game
for us and [it] could really give us those points needed for that final push."
York United’s form on home soil has been far from convincing. They have lost five times already and managed just three
wins with two matches ending in draws. So, Nash's primary concern as they head into tonight's game revolves around
their ability to reverse their mixed performances at home.
"We've had some good performances at home, but just haven't come away with results. We've been a bit up and down and
inconsistent. Right now, I don't think our problem is getting the guys up for the games; it's now limiting our mistakes
and creating more chances," he added.
"We've scored a lot more goals on the road than we have at home as well, which is an odd statistic, I think. We need
to keep that goalscoring form at home if we want to continue to win games."
Nash will have a fully-fit Paris Gee to name in his starting XI but Brem Soumaoro won’t be available due to suspension.
Coincidentally, he has been named in the Liberia squad for tomorrow's Africa Cup of Nations qualifier with Morocco
and the subsequent friendly against Ghana next Tuesday.
OPPONENT WATCH:
Valour have just one away win from 11 matches with six defeats and four draws.
They are on a stretched 10-match away winless run. In their last six league matches, Valour are on a 1-1-4 record.
Their top marksmen have been Diego Gutierrez and Kian Williams who are tied on three goals. Matteo de Brienne has
two goals to his credit.
Ridwan Ibrahim Asante
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