Boss Whing hoping Brackley Town can get back to winning ways at Wealdstone
New Brackley Town boss Andy Whing is looking forward to 'two really big games' this week - starting with Tuesday night's Enterprise National League trip to Wealdstone (ko 7.45pm).
Whing got his stint as Saints manager off to a losing start last weekend, when promotion-chasing Southend United secured a 3-0 success at St James Park, although the scoreline flattered the visitors who scored all three goals in the fial 10 minutes.
On the horizon are two testing trips to title chasers in Rochdale next Tuesday (March 3) and then Boreham Wood the following Saturday (March 7), so Whing knows he and his team ideally need to make the most of the next two encounters against teams in and around them.
On Tuesday they go to a Wealdstone side sitting one place below them in the table, and on the same points, and then Saturday's visitors to St James Park are Altrincham, who are one point and one place better off than Brackley.
Wealdstone this week sacked manager Sam Cox and will be led against the Saints by first team coach Danny Payne, and Whing knows it is a fixture his team must try and take full advantage of.
"We are three points off mid-table, we are still six points above the drop zone, so everything that was before Saturday's game is still the same," said Whing, who was unveiled as the new boss last week following Gavin Cowan making the move to Shrewsbury Town.
"We have a very important week now, and two really big games for us.
"You look at the Southend game and you know it is going to be tough, and then the week after we have Rochdale and Boreham Wood which we know is going to be tough.
"So the next two games are vitally important for us, and hopefully we can bounce back on Tuesday."
Whing's immediate concern will be getting a fully fit team out on the pitch at Wealdstone, with goalkeeper Cameron Gregory, who was replaced by Jonny Maxted last weekend, already likely ruled out for the season.
"Scotty Pollock didn't play on Saturday as he is injured, and Zak Brown could only come off the bench as he didnt train all week, and now Byron (Pendleton) is injured," Whing told @BrackleyTownFC.
"It is a case of trying to get a fit 15, 16 or 17 players, and whether that will mean bringing one or two in if we have time.
"There is loads to learn from Saturday, and it's one to look forward to on Tuesday."
Wealdstone go into Tuesday's game off the back of three straight defeats, the latest a 3-0 loss at fellow strugglers Sutton United, while Brackley's defeat to Southend was their first in eight games.