Take nothing for granted, warns Diamonds boss Peaks

Andy Peaks is hoping AFC Rushden & Diamonds’ midweek setback will serve as a warning to his players to take “nothing for granted”.
Ben Acquaye sits out the second of a three-match ban for AFC Rushden & Diamonds this weekendBen Acquaye sits out the second of a three-match ban for AFC Rushden & Diamonds this weekend
Ben Acquaye sits out the second of a three-match ban for AFC Rushden & Diamonds this weekend

Diamonds’ seven-match unbeaten run, which had taken them to within striking distance of the play-off places in the BetVictor Southern League Premier Central, was ended on Tuesday night as they suffered a 2-1 defeat to Needham Market at Hayden Road.

The loss came after Peaks’ team had claimed a fine 1-0 success at Nuneaton Borough last weekend.

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But Diamonds now need to bounce back as they gear up to take on rock-bottom Redditch United, who are managed by Rushden & Diamonds legend Duane Darby.

On paper, it looks like a ‘home banker’ but Peaks feels his players got the warning they needed in midweek.

“We were all disappointed after the game but I was never going to go overboard because the boys have been fantastic for most of the season,” the Diamonds manager said.

“They are the ones who have put us in a great position and Tuesday was just a lesson.

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“Once you have four, five or six players not quite at it, anyone can beat anyone in this league.

“It was a warning for

what could happen this weekend.

“We have been going well and Redditch are struggling and we have to use the other night as a positive and learn the lessons to make sure it doesn’t happen again.

“It showed what can happen when you think things will just take care of themselves.

“That doesn’t happen in football, I have been in it a long, long time and I have seen it at different levels as a player and manager.

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“You take nothing for granted because the minute you take a few liberties and think you have arrived, that’s when you come unstuck.

“Redditch will come with nothing to fear, they have already given themselves up as being relegated.

“I speak to Duane, I get on with him and I knew him from when he was at Diamonds. He is going to get a performance out of them and they will run through a wall for him.

“We have to be ready for that but there are plenty of games left and there will be more ups and downs to come.”

Diamonds will be without Ben Acquaye again as he serves the second of a three-match ban.