'Fearlessness' - Mike Williamson sends clear message to South Shields players ahead of Oxford City clash
South Shields travel to National League North leaders Oxford City in a top-of-the-table clash.
South Shields FC boss Mike Williamson has called on his players to be fearless and brave in their National League North top-of-the-table clash away to Oxford City.
Williamson’s side make the 510-mile round trip to the MGroup Stadium sitting third in the table, one point behind their hosts, who are unbeaten in their last eight matches in all competitions.
The Mariners, meanwhile, head into the game on the back of successive wins, beating Chester 3-1 at the Wolf Competitions Stadium last Saturday before grinding out a 1-0 victory against North East rivals Spennymoor Town in midweek.
Mike Williamson previews South Shields’ trip to Oxford City
“It’s going to be really difficult,” Williamson told The Gazette. “We've got a long journey to face an Oxford City team that are really in form.
“I played with their manager [Ross Jenkins] at Watford, so I know how hard he works and what he expects from his team. It looks like, at the minute, they’re reaping those rewards.
“He's been there for a few years, so it's not going to be easy, but we've just got to make sure that we dust ourselves off after tonight and get as recovered as we possibly can.”
Shields are only 13 games into their National League North campaign, but Williamson admits the result could have a bearing on the promotion race come the end of the season, although he isn’t looking that far ahead.
“It's three points, so if three points are the difference at the end of the season, then maybe,” he said.
“But we're looking at every game in isolation, and it's going to be a really tough one. So we'll just focus on our recovery, debrief this one, and then we'll get on with the next one.”
Mike Williamson calls for ‘fearlessness’ from South Shields players
Shields’ win at Spennymoor on Tuesday night was their first league win on the road since a 1-0 victory at Hednesford Town on September 5.
Paul Blackett scored in the 23rd minute before the Mariners dug deep in the second half to see out the result. Ahead of the trip to Oxford, Williamson has challenged his players to show the same level of togetherness.
“Just the fearlessness like tonight,” Williamson said when asked what he wanted to see from his squad. “Just the bravery and possession, but then also, out of possession, we defend as a team with 11 bodies, and there's no one exempt. So really, it’s that togetherness and desire.
“If we conceded with that mentality, then that's fine, but we need to make teams really deserve their goals, which we've probably been at fault for in previous games.”
Williamson hopes momentum is building following the last two results, having lost three of their previous four league matches before that.
“Yeah, we want to breed that mentality,” the former Newcastle United defender added. “Of course we do. And if we can defend like that, then yeah, we've got half a chance.
“We know when we focus on doing the basic things and we're earning the right [to play], we can beat anyone and build that consistency and continuity in the group and build off that performance.”