Karl Marginson believes that his in-form FC United side can send out a message to by beating North Ferriby at Gigg Lane on Saturday.
The Rebels are yet to taste defeat in 2010, and go into the game against the promotion-chasing Villagers on the back of a four-game winning streak.
“We’re really on the up now and we’ll head into the game full of confidence - I think a win would show the rest of the division that we mean business,” said the manager.
“They’ll be looking forward to the occasion of playing at Gigg Lane but we can give them a good game - if we’re at our best then we can beat any side in the league.”
Meanwhile, new signings Mark Ayres and Angelos Tsiatkis could make their home debuts.
“Mark came on for the last few minutes at Frickley so he’s in contention, and we’re just waiting on international clearance for Angelos,” said Marginson.
Prior to the game, FC will host a ‘Beyond the Debt’ supporter rally at Gigg Lane to debate the issues of debt in football and supporter-ownership of clubs.
The rally, which starts at midday and is free to attend, includes speeches from Supporters Direct (who represent fans throughout the UK) and representatives from German top-flight club Schalke 04.
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fuzzy dunlop (25/02/2010 at 13:24)
adam tong's last game before he goes to oz?
where has the blue moron got to i wonder???
Free Red, Manchester (25/02/2010 at 15:17)
Margy's Notes. The latest win came at Frickley Athletic on Saturday and I was very pleased with the performance the lads put in. It was very professional and they worked hard on a difficult pitch at a ground that is renowned for being a tough place to win. We made several chances on top of the ones we took and could have won by more than two. We were also very efficient at the back and that was pleasing to see. We didnt really give them any chances to get back in the game. Adam Tong went out on a high with another solid display at the back and I brought him off five minutes from the end to give the fans a chance to say goodbye to him. Tongy has been a well-liked member of the squad and the way the players formed a guard of honour for him at the end was proof of his popularity in the dressing room. We wish him all the best in Australia and with a bit of luck he can really make a go of his new life down under. I brought Mark Ayres on for Tongy to give him an introduction to FC United and he will be a good addition for us. Ayresy looked a bit different from how I remembered him and I couldnt put my finger on it until we got off the coach and he was rushed to hospital. The lad had infected wisdom teeth and had to have an operation - his jaw was really swollen so he looked different to the last time Id seen him. He didnt make a fuss as hes a typical Salford lad who just gets on with it. He got discharged on Tuesday so, hopefully, he could be in line to make his first start today. He is a good lad who gives his all and wont let you down. Another new signing, Angelos Tsiaklis, is still waiting for international clearance because his registration was held by Wrexham, so he will be chomping at the bit. He has looked really good in training and we hope to get him involved competitively soon. The new blood adds to competition for places and sharpens the squad up at a crucial time in the season. Were doing well at the moment because the hard work in training is being taken onto the field on match days. Its really important this attitude and effort continues as we look to climb the table in the last third of the season. North Ferriby will be a challenge for us today. They are 10 points ahead of us on equal games and they have beaten some decent sides so far. They have had a couple of top results and we will need to be on our game to make it five wins in a row today. We beat them in the FA Cup back in September and they got revenge in the league a month later. But I thought we were the better side on both occasions, even though the matches were very tight. If we keep doing what we have been doing of late, then we wont have a problem today.
Dash Walny Manchester via Poland (25/02/2010 at 16:31)
2 Uniteds but the soul is 1, LUHG, Mancunia (25/02/2010 at 17:18)
Can I just ask any season ticket holder what are the prices for 18 year olds? It looks like the Glazers may finally price me out next season.
Free Red, Manchester (25/02/2010 at 23:29)
Free Red, Manchester (26/02/2010 at 00:02)
Mark FCUM, Manchester (26/02/2010 at 12:44)
Si, East Manchester, Audenshaw (27/02/2010 at 12:20)
Si, East Manchester, Audenshaw (27/02/2010 at 18:32)
Free Red, Manchester (01/03/2010 at 13:50)
Six goals, two penalties and two red cards. The game had it all as FC United came from behind twice to rescue a valuable point and their unbeaten record in 2010 with a 3-3 draw against promotion rivals North Ferriby United on Saturday afternoon.
The Reds found themselves 2-0 down at half-time in front of a crowd of 2,021 supporters but Ben Deegan and captain David Chadwick hauled United level before Ferriby struck back and Deegan had to find another equaliser late on from the penalty spot.
United were a goal down after five minutes after some poor defending lead to a mix up between Sam Ashton and Ludovic Quistin which saw the United left-back fumble the ball into his own goal.
There wasn’t really much else to the first half with the Reds waiting until after the half hour point to create their first and only real chance of the opening half. Jerome Wright fired a shot from the left wing to see it parried by The Villagers ‘keeper Steve Wilson, before Wilson made a fantastic close range save from Deegan from the rebound.
Hopes of a United comeback were dealt a severe blow when the visitors broke away down the opposite end and Mark Whitehouse was given the easiest of chances when Russell Fry skilfully squared to him in the box to tap the ball home for 2-0.
Karl Marginson may not be the type for the hairdryer treatment at half-time but whatever FC United’s manager said to the players at the interval had a profound effect as they took to the field for the second half, wasting no time to create good chances and using good possession of the ball.
Sensing a new purpose in the players the crowd got on board and this added atmosphere resulted in United getting a goal back when Deegan rose well at the far post to head home Phil Marsh’s cross from the right to take the score to 2-1.
Five minutes later and United were level. Marsh was again the provider, this time with a corner for a classic Chadwick header. The centre-back flung himself at the ball, almost breaking the back of the net. The captain was clearly elated with the goal that saw his team draw level.
But as has been the case for much of the season, United undid that good work by letting the visitors back into the lead, when midfielder Chris Bolder rose well in the United box to head home and give the visitors the goal advantage again.
The visitors then let United back into things unnecessarily. A cross from the right came into the box and Deegan looked certain to get his head to the ball only for it to be knocked away by the arm of defender Ben Turner. United had a penalty and more importantly a route back into the game.
Deegan raced to get the ball and went to the spot but after a short consultation with Marsh it was decided that the former Manchester United player would take the responsibility. Marsh’s low but weak shot to the bottom right hand corner was easily saved by Wilson and it looked as though United had squandered a gift of an opportunity to get themselves level once more.
However, there was still time for more incident and United were storming forward. The Reds were given another spot-kick when Carlos Roca chested the ball down whilst running into the box only to be brought down by Kevin Larvin.
Referee Mr Norris awarded the penalty and showed Larvin to the stands for the clumsy challenge. This time there was no consultation; Deegan took the ball, placed it on the spot and fired past Wilson to bring United level once more.
A famous turn around was on the cards but Untied just couldn’t capitalise on having the extra man for the final 10 minutes. Not long before the end Rob Nugent was given a second yellow for blocking off a North Ferriby attack.
With both teams down to 10 men the game was back on an even footing and so the score-line stayed equal too.
Margy’s men still remain unbeaten in 2010; a run which now stretches to seven games. They will now look to take this form and the spirit of such a comeback into the next home match against Ossett Town (who were thumped 7-0 at Boston on Saturday) on Wednesday night.