BROMSGROVE Sporting are under no pressure going into Saturday’s (3pm) top-of-the-table clash with Tamworth at the Victoria Ground – that’s the view of manager Brendan Kelly.
The second-placed Rouslers have been a revelation in their first season at Step Three of non-league, holding their own and outshining some of the more-established clubs at this level.
Having scored four goals in each of their last three wins, adding further gloss to their current ten-game unbeaten run in all competitions, Sporting are by no means lacking in confidence.
Kelly believes their opponents will be the ones sweating most going into the encounter, with Bromsgrove already taking the scalp of Tamworth in a 3-1 victory at The Lamb Ground in August.
“The worst case scenario is that we end the match having taken three points off each other,” he said.
“There is no pressure on us whatsoever. They’re the firm favourites, but we’ve set ourselves up nicely with the confidence that’s running throughout the squad at the moment.
“We’re relaxed going into it. I’m intrigued to see how they approach it – if they try to take three points off us – or if they settle for the draw.”
Bromsgrove’s most-recent win came at Langford Road in Bedfordshire last Saturday, where Kelly’s men claimed a 4-2 victory over play-off chasing Biggleswade Town.
Mike Taylor’s brace and goals from Richard Gregory and Tom Taylor put the visitors in control of the match, prior to two late strikes from Kweku Lucan.
While it proved Sporting’s 13th win of the campaign, Kelly is wary of the current limitations of his side.
“It’s fair to say the squad is stretched at the moment,” said Bromsgrove’s manager.
“We’ve got 17 senior first-team players available, plus three or four from the youth ranks, so we’ll be looking to build on our positive position with some new additions in the next few weeks.
“I’m really pleased with the turnaround from the lads over the Christmas period. To score four in each of our last three games is amazing.”
With a near full-strength squad at his disposal, the Bromsgrove manager has confirmed the only doubts for the weekend are striker Shaquille McDonald and Kyle Lincoln, who will both undergo fitness tests having missed out against Biggleswade.
“Since that defeat to us, Tamworth have lived up to their favourites tag in the league,” said Kelly.
“They’ve made a few changes, not wholesale ones but a couple, and have gone on a brilliant run.
“The manner in which we beat them didn’t go down too well at their place, we ruffled a few feathers and there was a bit of an atmosphere at full time.
“Similarly I think we’re a lot better off now than we were last time we played them, so we’re confident.”
