Salford City assistant manager Alex Bruce believes his players still “have something to play for” despite the team being out of the League Two promotion picture and relegation battle this season.
Speaking to the press after The Ammies’ 2-1 win against mid-table Notts County, Bruce suggested that members of the squad still have a lot to play for, “The players are playing for their futures.”
Since his arrival, Salford City boss Karl Robinson has been quick to highlight the importance of the ‘dead-rubber’ games at the end of the season. His assistant Bruce, filling in with Robinson suspended, stressed the need to “keep momentum, carry it over into the next campaign and hit the ground running.”
For the team, the League Two run-in has effectively become a trial period as fringe players battle for next season’s contracts.
The Notts County game highlighted the importance of a strong bench, with Notts County pilling on the pressure in the second half, Bruce made alterations which he believes had a “really big impact on the game.”
“On the whole, I’m really pleased with the performance, we nullified them, I can’t remember Alex Cairns having too many saves to make.”
“I thought that we were excellent, the game plan worked really well, and we scored good goals at important times.”
In a superb team performance, the contribution of attacking midfielder Connor McAleny stood out, the 31-year-old showed great composure when netting both of The Ammies’ goals. McAleny was equally effective in his defensive play, he restricted Notts County’s ability to develop play centrally.
Conor McAleny’s brace inspired Salford to a win on our first visit to Meadow Lane!
— Salford City FC (@SalfordCityFC) March 23, 2024
“I think he stuck to the game plan well, to sit in and around their deep-lying midfield player, he showed good energy and the quality that we needed with his two goals”, Bruce said.
“At any stage of the season, it’s important to get back-to-back wins, it gives the lads that little bit of confidence as well. When we play like we did today we are a match for anyone in this league.”
Salford City will be looking to build upon a run of positive results on Good Friday, The Ammies face relegation-threatened Sutton United at the Peninsula Stadium (3pm Kick-off.)
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