Gaffer's thoughts ahead of Saturday's trip to Solihull
Town travel to Solihull Moors on Saturday for their next match of their pre-season games programme.It will give Micky Mellon’s side a good test against a team who have won promotion into the Vanarama National League.
Having played three Championship sides in Wolves, Cardiff City and Birmingham City it will give Town a different type of test and one that the Town manager is looking forward to.
“That’s why we took the game on as it’s going to be a completely different game to the three that we have played already”, said Micky.
“It will give us something else to talk about after the game because that is what pre-season is about.
“It’s about learning about your group, going into games and finding what they can and can’t do rather than taking on games where you go and win with cricket scores and you don’t learn anything.
“You want to be thrown up different challenges to learn as much about the group and get ready for that first league game of the season.”
Both sides are near the midway point of their pre-season training programmes and the game will be a good test. Solihull have had games against Walsall, Birmingham City and AFC Telford so far in pre-season and will be looking forward to welcoming Town.
“Both teams will want to win and we know that it will be a difficult game for us as they are a club on the up”, added Micky.
“Solihull are in a good place at the minute so it is a good time to go there and play a good club.
“We will go there and learn more about the group and keep the work going towards that important game with MK Dons.”
On Tuesday night Town were worthy 1-0 winners against Birmingham City thanks to an Ethan Jones strike. Town have started to work on formation and shape recently and Saturday will be another important step in the work on team shape.
“You’ve got to so much to do over the pre-season so you take things step by step”, revealed Micky.
“We started early on in the week trying to put some structure onto what we have been doing in training in the small sided games.
“We brought that into the eleven a side games and brought some principles in about the shape we want to play and what we want to try and achieve with and without the ball.
“I thought the lads were fantastic at it against Birmingham if I’m honest, I was really pleased with what I saw and they were ahead of where I though they would be structurally.
“We’ve got a good base to work forward from and we are in a good place at the moment.”
Ian Black was missing against Birmingham after picking up a knee injury in the Cardiff City game. He was back out on the training pitch running and the next step will be to return to full training when he’s ready.
“He did a little bit of running out on the grass this morning but hasn’t joined in training yet but he’s making progress”, added the manager.
“You get a few bumps and bruises this time of year but pretty much everyone has trained today so injury wise we are in a good place.”
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