Ian Watson demands South Shields reaction ahead of Radcliffe test

South Shields manager Ian Watson has called on his players to take responsibility for producing a positive reaction to Monday’s disappointing home defeat against North East neighbours Darlington.

The Mariners went into the meeting with their manager’s former club looking to close the gap on National League North leaders AFC Fylde ahead of the final fortnight of the season - but found themselves six points adrift by the time the full-time whistle had been blown at the 1st Cloud Arena.

A goal from former Mariners striker Cedric Main was the difference between the two sides and there was further disappointment when news of Fylde’s dramatic late win in a seven-goal thriller with Radcliffe filtered through. Radcliffe will provide the opposition for Watson and his players as they travel to the Neuven Stadium for their penultimate away game of the campaign on Saturday - and the Mariners squad have been delivered a stern message ahead of the trip.

He told The Gazette: “It’s also the players’ responsibility because they can’t rely on everyone else to lift them and get them into that place where they feel really good all of the time. As a player, you have to do that yourself throughout the season. The result against Darlington has to hurt a lot and we have to learn from it. We need to be better for it because it wasn’t good enough.”

Frustration

The main frustration felt by Watson and his coaching staff following Monday’s defeat was with what they perceived to be a ‘nervousness and anxiety’ shown by their players during the opening 45 minutes at the 1st Cloud Arena. The fluidity and rhythm that have become hallmarks of the Mariners’ play this season were conspicuous by their absence and that played a key role in handing the initiative to the Quakers.

With a tough-looking away day now lying in wait, Watson has stressed his players can’t afford a repeat performance as they look to keep their slim title hopes alive this weekend.

He said: “Ultimately, we can’t play with nervousness or anxiety that we played with at the start of the game. We have to change that nervousness and anxiety into wanting to run, wanting to get on the ball and taking the handbrake off. As a coach, I don’t want my team to play with any fear or nervousness, I don’t want them to play in self-preservation mode. I just want them to have ultimate belief in themselves and play with bravery. We didn’t do that at the start of the game on Monday and we have to do it going forwards.”

Watson could consider making changes to his side following Monday’s defeat and that could mean starts for the likes of Lennon Wheeldon, Jack Roles and Sean McGurk after they came off the bench during the second-half of the loss against the Quakers. Former Sunderland youngster Caden Kelly also continued his long-awaited comeback from injury by coming off the bench and Watson must decide whether he is fit enough for a first league start since November.

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