Horndean boss Michael Birmingham has a message for his players ahead of touchline return for Fareham Town visit

Horndean boss Michael Birmingham. Picture: Chris Moorhouse (jpns 100721-43)Horndean boss Michael Birmingham. Picture: Chris Moorhouse (jpns 100721-43)
Horndean boss Michael Birmingham. Picture: Chris Moorhouse (jpns 100721-43)
Manager Michael Birmingham prepared for his touchline return and warned his Horndean players: be wary of a wounded Fareham Town.

The table-topping Deans welcome out-of-form Wessex League Premier Division Fareham for a league encounter at Five Heads Park on Saturday.

Leaders Horndean have made a blistering start to the season, opening up a three-point advantage over second-placed Brockenhurst having won 15 of their opening 19 league matches.

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In contrast, the Reds make the short trip on the back of somewhat of a slump and are currently without a win in five Wessex Premier matches.

They have also shipped 14 goals in their previous three outings in all competitions and come up against a Horndean side who have netted an incredible 99 times in 26 matches this term.

But despite the statistics and recent form pointing to another win for the Deans, boss Birmingham - returning to the touchline after a period self-isolating having contracted Covid-19 - will be reiterating the level his players need to reach in order to claim victory.

He said: ‘You’re in for a game from the first minute until the last minute with Fareham because they never roll over. They’re a good side and they represent the manager very, very well.

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‘We’ve got a tough, tough PO postcode derby again. We know Fareham are going to be wounded at the moment.

‘They’re going to come out and Pete (Stiles; Fareham manager) is going to demand a reaction, he will demand a reaction, and a reaction is what we know to expect.

Pete Stiles is a top, top man I’ve known him when I had the pleasure of working underneath him at AFC Portchester. He was reserve team manager when I was youth team manager so we keep in touch.’

Assistant manager Jason Mann and general manager Mick Catlin had a perfect record in Birmingham's absence, guiding the team to wins over Alton and Amesbury.

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But the Horndean boss is relieved he can return to watch from his usual standpoint this weekend.

Birmingham added: ‘Don’t get me wrong, Manna (Jason Mann; assistant manager) and Cats (Mick Catlin) have done well - I asked for six points and got it - by hook or crook.

‘We got through unscathed, we always knew Alton was going to be a tough place to go to, they’re a well drilled side.’

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