Why Jarrow manager Dave Bell isn't paying much attention to pre-season results

Jarrow are yet to claim a win in their preparations for the new season after being comprehensively beaten by Northern League Division One duo North Shields and Whitley Bay over the last two weeks.

Those two fixtures given Bell and his coaching staff a chance to make the first move implementing a new style of play and fine-tuning their side’s set-up ahead of the new Northern League season.

And although the results have not gone their way, there have been signs of an improvement – particularly during an impressive first-half display in Saturday’s 5-2 defeat against Whitley Bay.

They will hope it’s a case of third time lucky as they go looking for a first win on Wednesday night when they entertain a South Shields academy side at Perth Green.

Ahead of the game, Bell revealed that he will persevere with the new tactical set-up – although did concede his disappointment over the number of goals his side have conceded so far.

He told The Gazette: “I don’t focus on results in pre-season, but I do focus on the performance and how the lads are reacting to what we ask of them.

“Although the results aren’t seen as important, the way we play and the discipline we show is.

“I am disappointed and concerned that we have conceded nine goals in two games.

“But we have changed the way that we play and it’s about bedding that in during pre-season.”