Clarke: The team that wins ugly will win the league (From Salisbury Journal)

Clarke: The team that wins ugly will win the league

2:54pm Friday 1st March 2013 in Headlines By Joel Holt

SALISBURY City boss Darrell Clarke reckons whichever side can consistently “win ugly” in Conference South will snap up the league title, writes Joel Holt.

Clarke gathered his thoughts after witnessing his side squander a two-goal lead at the hands of Havant & Waterlooville on Saturday.

Dan Fitchett’s explosive strikes looked enough to seal Salisbury’s first away triumph for more than ten weeks, but Perry Ryan’s efforts, left the management contingency despair.

“We definitely dropped two points, and I’m disappointed with the goals we conceded, especially as we were in a winning position,” Clarke said.

“I’m looking for a little bit more nous in my squad to make sure we don’t give away a two-goal lead. We’ve got to be able to see that through in the future.

“Away from home you have to be a little less pretty. You have to defend throughout and that’s what we didn’t do. But the good thing is that we picked up a point rather than suffering another defeat.

“You can’t knock my players for their effort and I’ve got some very experienced players, albeit a few injuries as well, but there’s enough talent on the pitch to make sure we protect a lead for 90 minutes, and there’s no excuses.

“We should have killed time a little bit more and have played the ugly side of the game to win the points, and the team that wins ugly, will win the league, which is still for the taking.”

The Whites, who didn’t have a midweek game, are now gearing themselves up for three games which could play an influential role in their season finale.

Facing Weston-super-Mare tomorrow at the Ray Mac (3pm), with the reverse fixture seven days later - Basingstoke Town sandwiched in between - Clarke believes they are equally as tough as each other.

“All games are tough, and there’s no harder match than the next one. But it’s up to us to defend better. Our home form’s been good and we need to start looking for more nous on the road.”