Andy Peaks wants the AFC Rushden & Diamonds fans to throw their full support behind his team as they head into a huge clash at the Dog & Duck on tomorrow (Saturday).
A 2-0 home defeat to Stocksbridge Park Steels on Tuesday night saw Diamonds drop out of the play-off places with three games of the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League Division One South season remaining.
The first part of their Easter weekend double-header sees them take on Newcastle Town, who sit just below them and who are still in with a good chance of securing a top-five finish.
A short trip to Stamford follows on Monday afternoon but Peaks is focusing solely on a huge match, which is also their game in hand on Basford United who sit in fourth place.
And Peaks insists his team will be giving it a “real go” when they step out tomorrow.
“As disappointing as our home form has been this season, this now becomes a massive game,” the Diamonds boss said.
“I just want everyone to get behind the lads and help push them on.
“We are still in with a great opportunity to get to where we want to be. I still have massive belief in what we are doing. We have reached the latter stages of the season and we are in with a chance of achieving what we set out to do.
“It was a setback on Tuesday but it is still in our hands. So we are heading into Saturday with a positive attitude. We will give it a real go.”
The game is the reverse fixture from the opening day of the campaign when Newcastle beat Diamonds 1-0.
And Peaks says this is one he has been looking forward to.
He added: “They have been up there for most of the season. They have had a little blip lately but they have lost to some decent teams.
“To be honest, this is one I have been looking forward to since they beat us on the first day of the season. They celebrated as if they had beaten Rushden & Diamonds from the Football League and that’s something I haven’t forgotten.”
