TOWN manager Carl Adams is anticipating a tough test at Pinchbeck United on Saturday (3pm), when Rugby seek to put an end to their two-match losing streak in the United Counties League Premier Division.
The Lincolnshire side are currently struggling near the foot of the table with one win from their opening five games played – a far cry from their finish of fourth last season.
But despite their opposition’s downturn in form, the Rugby boss says his side must be prepared to do battle.
“It appears that they lost a fair few of last season’s squad over the summer, so I guess they have been experiencing issues of their own in terms of bedding-in new players,” said Adams.
“They have strengthened further over the past couple of weeks though, so I am expecting a tough game on Saturday.”
In last weekend’s trip to Loughborough University, Jazz Luckie’s first-half strike had given Valley a lead at half time, only for Kel Akpobire and Connor Smith to overturn the scoreline for the students in the space of five second-half minutes.
Adams says his new-look side will eventually click into place, and can take positives despite the latest defeat.
“I’m not looking for excuses but I stand by what I said a couple of weeks ago that this run of matches would be our toughest of the season,” he said.
“Whilst the result was disappointing on Saturday, the performance was much improved from the week before – when I thought we were poor against Shepshed.”
