The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Chris Rawlinson admits that all he wants for Christmas is an end to Spalding United’s seven-game losing streak.
The 15th-placed Tulips enter their festive Evo-Stik NPL First Division South fixtures in rotten form, but Rawlinson reckons that their luck has to change soon.
They kick off the Christmas period with a trip to in-form Corby Town this Saturday (3pm), before hosting neighbours Peterborough Sports on Boxing Day (also 3pm).
Another home date awaits on December 30, with Newcastle Town making the trip to the Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field (3pm).
Although Rawlinson admits he’d love four, five or six points, he’s realistic enough to admit that any positive result would represent progress for a Spalding squad that he admits are “under-performing” at present.
“Obviously we want to win every game,” said the Tulips chief. “But, to be honest, I just want to end this run of defeats.
“We’re not looking at the Christmas games as a group, we’ll take them one game at a time. Ideally, we want to win all of them or at least go unbeaten and pick up four, five or six points.
“But, clearly, I’ve got a dressing room of players that are under-performing at present. We have lots of quality, but we’ve not had much luck lately.
“Four or six points would be adequate, but I’m realistic enough to say that any kind of positive result would be great.”
The clashes with Corby and Sports are derbies of sorts for the Tulips.
Rawlinson’s side beat the Steelmen in the reverse fixture earlier in the season, while the game with promoted Peterborough is the first meeting between the teams this season.
“I’ve seen Corby recently and they’re a good side,” added the Spalding boss. “But we’ve already beaten them once this season.
“As for Sports, it’d be nice to win a derby game in front of our home fans on Boxing Day. I think they’ve got a small squad and have found the league quite intense. But they have quality, that’s for sure.”
Spalding hope to sign a work experience player from Lincoln City ahead of the Christmas games.
- Jonny Lockie scored a hat-trick as Spalding under-21s beat Boston Town under-21s 6-1 on Tuesday night.
