Harrison looking for The New Saints to bounce back
THE NEW SAINTS will look to shake off a rare Welsh Premier League defeat as they bid to get back on track against Carmarthen Town at Park Hall on Saturday.
The champions were downed 2-1 at Gap Connah’s Quay in midweek, with the Nomads moving second courtesy of the victory while also giving themselves a timely boost ahead of the Welsh Cup semi-final between the sides on April 1. Saints boss Craig Harrison will now want a swift riposte against Carmarthen – the only other side to have defeated the leaders in the league this season when ending their 32-match unbeaten run last month with a 1-0 victory at Richmond Park.
“It’s always disappointing to get beat, but as long as we learn from this then it’s no great problem,” said Harrison.
“The performance was not great, but the positive thing was that we were able to give three of four players game time. They deserve a chance as everyone wants to make the starting XI for the Welsh Cup next week.
“We’ve now got Carmarthen on Saturday, and we’ll make five or six changes for what will be another tough game.
“They have already beaten us once this season. They will come to stifle us, get men behind the ball and be well organised, but we will be ready for that.”
The runaway leaders could have no complaints in the midweek loss at Gap, who were full of purpose throughout to gain a deserved scalp to boost their own hopes of automatic Europa League qualification.
The Saints had led through a first league goal for James Jones on 33 minutes, but Gap took the spoils through second half strikes from John Disney and substitute Declan Poole.
Defeat saw TNS miss a chance to beat their best ever points haul of 77 in the 12-team league set two years ago, although they still have four games left. They remain 23 points clear at the top.
The Saints have enjoyed some big home wins against Carmarthen in the past, notably in March 2009 when storming to an 8-0 victory.
That remained their highest league success until this season, when that record was eclipsed by a 10-0 romp against Rhyl back in August.
Since winning the title, the Saints have been ringing the changes to give game time to their fringe players ahead of their Welsh Cup semi-final clash with Gap Connah’s Quay at Bangor City next week.
Should they make a successful defence of the trophy, the Saints will complete an historic third successive treble having already won the Nathaniel MG Cup and the league title.
