CHELMSFORD: Clarets' boss is desperate for revenge

CHELMSFORD City take on Blue Square South runaway leaders Newport County on Saturday with manager Glenn Pennyfather on a revenge mission after his side were hammered 4-0 down in South Wales early in the season.

"We want to win this game anyway to maintain our own promotion play-off aims but also to avenge that drubbing we had at their place back in August," said Pennyfather yesterday (Wednesday). "I know we didn't have a particularly strong enough team on that day but to lose heavily was hard to take and I know the players will want to put the record straight this Saturday."

Pennyfather's side, who moved up to second placed behind Newport after their dour 1-0 win over Dorchester Town on Monday, have realistically like others in the chasing pack little chance of stopping the Welsh side from being champions.

"They're a good side with good credentials and the league table shows that with them 17 points clear of the rest having only lost one in 26 games up until their match tonight at Eastleigh," he said. "That's championship form by any standards but we'll be aiming to put a small dent in that by winning on Saturday.

"We know we have to be on our game from the start and perhaps take into account the playing conditions and again change a little from our normal way of playing," Pennyfather said. "Everyone knows that they are a hard team to beat but we've shown on our day too what we can do."

He went on: "I don't regard it as six-pointer as they say because of what the league table shows and all our concentration is on winning and picking up three more points towards trying to cement our play-off place."

The City boss expects to have both the experienced defender Steve Ward and striker Lewis Smith back from injury although Mark Haines will be missing again though as he still recovers from a ligament injury sustained four weeks ago when colliding with a corner flag.

"It's a bit frustrating for Mark because I too feel we have missed his presence in the side but such injuries take time to heal," said Pennyfather.

City are not planning anymore new imminent signings with Pennyfather explaining: "We go as we are at present and hopefully with everyone fit, including Simon Glover who is well on his way back to full fitness after his long lay, we'll have a squad capable of making it into the play-offs."

On the Dorchester win he admitted it wasn't pretty but added: "We had to get back on the winning track with a battling, workmanlike show and with the right work ethic.

"It was a scruffy game with little football being played but we won and that's what mattered in the end," he added. "No side apart from Newport has really shown the consistency needed and we're still striving hard for that."

On Monday City entertain Aveley in the Essex Senior Cup Quarter-Final (kick-off is 7.30pm) and Pennyfather says he will be putting a full first team out as they want to win and go on to retain the cup won last season.

He added: "It's an important cup and our only chance of silverware."