Kettering Town must play 'without any fear' in tough test at York

The Poppies are unbeaten in four matches ahead of their clash at the title favourites
Kettering Town boss Paul Cox. Picture by Peter ShortKettering Town boss Paul Cox. Picture by Peter Short
Kettering Town boss Paul Cox. Picture by Peter Short

Paul Cox believes his Kettering Town team will get an idea of how far they have come in the last four matches when they head to York City this evening (Tuesday).

The Poppies have enjoyed a mini revival after a disappointing start to the Vanarama National League North campaign and travel to Bootham Crescent on the back of two wins in a row after they followed up a 2-0 victory at Kidderminster Harriers with a 2-1 success over Blyth Spartans as fans returned to Latimer Park at the weekend.

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Cox’s team are now unbeaten in four matches but face the stiffest of examinations tonight as they take on a York side who are well-fancied to be in the hunt for automatic promotion this season.

But the Poppies boss is keen to see his team play with “confidence and without any fear”.

“We will see how far we have come,” Cox said.

“I do think our better performances have come away from home so far and we have players who are a little bit more fluid on better surfaces.

“But going away to York, I thought it was one of our better performances last season when we lost 1-0 but created chances.

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“I just want the boys to have confidence and play without any fear, especially away from home.

“We should be able to go into any ground and make sure people know our DNA and how competitive we can be.

“It’s going to take a bit of time before I am 100 per cent happy that we can do that but I think we have made some great strides after an erratic start.”

Cox, meanwhile, believes the recent additions he has made to the squad have had the desired effect in recent matches.

“The lads have had to dig in,” he added.

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“It’s not nice when you look at the league table on a Saturday night and you see yourselves propping up the rest of the league.

“I have never ever felt worried but I knew things needed doing and I am very impatient, as people know. I still think there’s more that needs doing but we have to be patient.

“We have brought one or two lads in who have changed the course of how we play, particularly at home.

“Kyle Perry has come in and done well, Jevan Anderson was very good on his debut on Saturday and the likes of Rhys Sharpe and Callum Powell are only going to get fitter and stronger.”