City of Liverpool manager Paul McNally has demanded that his players are up for Friday night’s derby clash with Prescot Cables.
The 10A Derby arrives at the Joseph Russell Stadium on Friday as both sides look to return to winning ways.
City of Liverpool slumped to defeat at home to Newcastle Town, last Saturday, as they were beaten 2-1. They are winless in the league since their 4-0 win over Widnes, a spell spanning three matches.
Cables are a side that McNally is no stranger to after being in the opposite dugout to Kevin Lynch twice already this season.
Whilst Prescot Cables knocked his Skelmersdale United side out of the FA Cup, he got his revenge when they ran out winners in their league meeting prior to his departure.
Speaking to Off The Park, McNally said: “I’ve faced Prescot twice this season, they’re a good side, they’re a team, they’re together, very physical and good going forward.
“It will be a very good game and one I hope we can turn up and rise to. If we can’t get up for it which will be a good hundred people then we shouldn’t be playing football if we can’t get up for this, local bragging rights are at stake.
“They’ll be looking for a reaction, they’ll be looking to put things right and no better way to do it than against us. I’d be anticipating a good game, the manager is good there, Kevin and his backroom staff, they’re a good game and it’s a good game for us. We’ll be looking to get the win.”
This week, James Edgar and Danny McKenna left the club whilst Ben Barnes, Liam Hollett and Jack Hont all put pen-to-paper on deals with the Purps.
“The thought process is basically trying to bring in players I think can improve us going forward, that’s it,” he said, explaining the reasons behind the signings.
“If players are identified, good players, I’ll always be interested no matter who we have at the club. Can we improve? And I think the players we’ve brought in will improve us.
“Ben played previously when they were very successful, Liam’s played there most of his career, it will be a tough occasion for him. He’s got an affinity with them but once we cross the pitch, all that goes out the window doesn’t it.”
Adam Hughes pulled a goal back on Saturday but it wasn’t enough as the 10-man of Newcastle Town made it two straight defeats at home for City of Liverpool.
However, McNally was made to rue mistakes, he said: “Not great, we’ve made two errors which have probably cost us, we haven’t defended very well all game but I think we have had enough chances to win the game upon reflection.
“If you take the two mistakes out of it then we win the game but that’s not how it is. It’s just a reflection of how it went, they wanted it more, they had something to hold onto and defended for their lives, take my hat off to them.
“The week before, we drew at Workington 0-0 and potentially could’ve snatched it or lost it at the other end so the contrast was two totally different performances.
“Maybe Newcastle have come with a gameplan and our lads have thought the game last week was harder and possibly underestimated them – we never – maybe it was just a poor performance from the lads in general that was it.”
