Boss Mettam wants 'fearless' Corby Town to make Steel Park 'a fortress'
Leon Mettam insists his Corby Town team 'don't fear anybody' as they prepare to take on third-placed Basford United in the Pitching-In Northern Premier League Midlands Division on Saturday (ko 3pm).
And with six out of the next seven fixtures on home soil, the Corby boss has told his players they need to make Steel Park 'a fortress', something which has not always been the case.
The Steelmen maintained their interest in the play-off race with a 2-2 draw with fifth-placed Coleshill Town on Wednesday night thanks to goals from Harrah Jones and Jordon Crawford, in what was their first home encounter since January 24.
The result left them nine points adrift of the play-offs, but with three games in hand, and Mettam's side now face a critical week as they entertain third-placed Basford on Saturday, followed by a massive derby with in-form Wellingborough Town next Wednesday.
And the manager wants to make home advantage count.
"It is nice to have some home games, we have not played at home for 40 days, and that takes its toll on the club," Mettam told @corbytownfc.
"We need games at home, I think we have three on the spin now, and we need to make this a fortress.
"Looking back on results, even with previous management, for some reason we don't seem to get great results at Steel Park.
"We came in and I don't think we got great results in the first two we played either, and we can't quite put our finger on why.
"Whether it is the pitch, or it's a bit of pressure, I don't know, but we need to build on that because I think after Wednesday it is a good starting point."
Basford will arrive at Steel Park off the back of a 2-1 home defeat at the hands of Coleshill last Saturday, and their recent form has been patchy.
They sit third, 12 points ahead of Corby, but the Steelmen have played three games fewer, and a win this weekend will be a massive boost for Mettam's men.
"Basford will come here, they are third in the league, and I know their manager (Martin Carruthers) quite well, and I fully expect another tough and stern test," said the Corby boss.
"I know a few of their players, and it will be another tough challenge, but we have been here for 10 games or so now and we don't fear anybody.
"We are an extremely young side, we have 17-year-olds running about out there, but with youngsters they show no fear, and I think we have seen that."