We'll turn it around

Jun 5 2008 by Ian Cheveau, Runcorn and Widnes Weekly News

WIDNES boss Steve McCormack has admitted that Sunday’s Co-operative National League One clash with second-placed Halifax is a ‘pressure game’ for the Vikings.

The Vikings faced their first period of adversity this season with two devastating losses which has seen them concede a whopping 84 points, sending shockwaves through the core of fans.

However, the former National League Coach of the Year claims his side has the “belief” and “quality” to get their season back on track.

He said: ‘We have still got belief.

“Yes, we were very poor in our previous two games, but that doesn’t mean we don’t believe we can turn it round.

“When you look at how many games we have lost and how many we have won in the league it tells its own story.”

He added: “We have played eight, won five, drawn one and lost two and that isn’t too bad considering what we had to do to get into positive figures following our nine-point penalty.”

Some Vikings’ supporters have shown concern about the performances of McCormack’s side in recent weeks and have heaped pressure on the players in more ways than one, which has resulted in a downturn in performance.

McCormack claims his players are “100% focused” but said: “Some players have been playing as though there is a bit too much pressure on them in comparison to what they did at the start of the season.

‘We have a few injuries, but I would never use that as an excuse for getting beaten as we have enough quality in our team to get through that.

Featherstone played simple rugby and they played it well, whereas we were really poor in the first half and we had the opportunities to win it late on but we didn’t take them.”

He added: “There is no hiding place in National League and the game on Sunday is vital for both teams.

We got beat by Featherstone and Halifax were turned over by Sheffield and that shows how hard a league this really is.”

Widnes will still be without Tommy Gallagher (two weeks) and Tim Hartley (three weeks) for the weekend’s game but Richard Fletcher and John Duffy will shake off neck and ankle injuries respectively to take their place in McCormack’s 17.