Law hoping Merthyr trip can turn Poppies' season again

Poppies boss Marcus Law gives out instructions during the 5-1 victory over Market Drayton Town. Picture by Peter Short

The Poppies make the long trek to Wales tomorrow (Tuesday) night as they return to Evo-Stik Southern League Premier Division action.

And they are going to have their work cut out against a Merthyr side who are unbeaten at home in the league this season, having won five of their six matches on the 3G surface at Penydarren Park.

It was around 12 months ago that Law was alleged to have offered his resignation following the Poppies’ defeat at Bideford but he stayed on and made changes to an under-performing squad.

Their next game was at Merthyr and Wilson Carvalho scored a last-minute equaliser in a 1-1 draw, which proved to be the catalyst for a big push towards the play-off places, which ultimately proved fruitless.

Now Law is hoping another trip to the same ground will be the kickstart for the Poppies’ current inconsistent run of form in the league.

They do head into it on the back of a 5-1 hammering of Market Drayton Town in the Buildbase FA Trophy at Latimer Park on Saturday.

And Law said: “This time last year we came back from Bideford and it was a dark place we found ourselves in.

“But we went to Merthyr and scored a last minute equaliser and that turned our season. We have to hope that the same sort of thing can happen again.

“Merthyr are unbeaten at home and they are going to be up there. They are stronger and wiser than they were last season.

“But we have been decent away from home this season and if we play to our capabilities then we will give ourselves a chance.

“I think we know we are good enough to compete with the best teams in this league but we have to start showing it.

“I am tired of being told what a good side we are. I just want to start getting points on the board.

“People have talked about us a lot and we have talked about ourselves but we have to start putting it on the pitch.”

Law, however, has conceded he will have to shuffle his pack as he contends with player unavailability due to work commitments.

“We have issues over player availability because of some of the lads’ work commitments,” the Poppies boss added.

“We will know today what the full situation is but we will have a squad of 16 travelling down there that we believe will be capable of getting a positive result.

“We have got a lot of midweek games coming up over the next month and the squad will be utilised fully during that time.”