CHESTER FC will have to show their ugly side if they are to do what none of their title rivals have been able to do this year – win at Frickley Athletic.
Blues boss Neil Young has told his players they must be prepared for a scrap in Saturday’s Westfield Lane clash (3pm), or risk becoming the latest high-flying side to drop points to the in-form Yorkshiremen.
Young said: “Frickley are unbeaten in their last seven and without being disrespectful, they’ve not got the greatest pitch in the world to play on. It’s got a nice slope on it and it’s big and it’s difficult.
“They are doing really well, especially against the top sides, but we’ve gone to tough places like Rushall recently and got a result so I’m expecting us to do the same.
“But we’re going to have to battle a result out and show the other side of us. We’ve got to go there and be positive but also be physical and scrap it out.”
Northwich Victoria, Hednesford Town and Chorley have all failed to win at Frickley’s notoriously tricky ground in 2012.
Peter Rinkcavage’s team are also one of only four sides not to have lost at the Exacta Stadium this season.
Frickley held Chester to a point in October’s reverse league match and their manager believes another shock could be on the cards.
Rinkcavage said: “We will enjoy the occasion knowing we are one of the few teams not to lose at Chester and try to pull off another upset.”
Young will delay naming his starting XI until he has had the chance to inspect the condition of the Westfield Lane surface. He will not be afraid to make changes to the team which beat Buxton 4-0 last Saturday.
Young, who has extended the loan of winger Stefan Cox from Fleetwood Town, said: “I’ve got every confidence in every player in my squad and that’s why at any given time I’m not scared to play any of them.
“They’ve all got a role to play – a massive role to play. Look at what happened on Saturday. Chris Simm came in out of the wilderness and scored two goals and Wes Baynes came back following suspension and scored two goals. They’ve just got to take their opportunity.”
Chester, who are eight points clear at the top, host rock-bottom Burscough next Wednesday (7.45pm).
