Phoenix boss ahead of crucial trip to Steyning Town
Phoenix boss Darren Anslow has encouraged his players to keep focusing on what they can control ahead of Saturday’s crucial trip to Steyning Town.
The Phoenix boss saw his side put in one of their strongest performances of the season on Tuesday night when they deservedly beat local rivals Erith Town 2-1 at the Christopher Russell Stadium.
Victory at Steyning would be Phoenix’s third win in four games and see the club climb to 27 points with nine games to play, but speaking to the Kent Only Podcast, Anslow insisted no one was getting carried away.
"We’re instilling into the players that we need to control the things that we can control and concentrate on our performances. We’re not even really looking around us, but we’re trying to focus on what we’ve got to do. The performances have definitely been improving, and on Tuesday, you could see things coming together.
"It was pleasing—they took on board what the management team asked them to do, and in the end, it was thoroughly deserved.
"All we can do is keep applying pressure to the other sides. When you’re looking over your shoulder, sometimes that’s a bit more difficult than being the one that’s chasing. The players know that they have to go and get a result on Saturday, but sometimes playing the teams around you is a little more difficult than playing the teams higher up the table."
When Anslow took the helm in October, Phoenix had one point from a possible 24 and sat bottom of the league.
Fast forward to March, and Phoenix are on their strongest run of the season. With ten games left, Anslow insists everyone’s focus is on the great escape.
"Thirty points is a lot of points to play for, but you want to get those points on the board as quickly as you possibly can.
"All we can do is concentrate on what we’re doing and where we’re going. There’s no point in us looking at the other sides and the other fixtures—we’ve got to concentrate on our own performances and what we can affect.
"We’ve always had that belief. The minute you don’t have that belief, you might as well hang them up."
Tickets for Saturday’s match at Steyning Town are priced:
Adult: £10
Concession: £6 (Senior citizens, students 16-18)
Child/Young Person: £2
U5s: Free
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