Armstrong wants Gateshead to thrive in adversity at Forest Green
Gateshead will face a tough looking trip to National League title contenders Forest Green Rovers on Saturday.
Alun Armstrong is hoping Gateshead will benefit from a backs against the wall approach when they make the long trip to National League promotion contenders Forest Green Rovers on Saturday afternoon.
The Heed are aiming to avoid a third consecutive defeat after they failed to build on the momentum gained by their shock FA Cup first round win at League One club AFC Wimbledon by suffering successive league losses against York City and Solihull Moors.
The latter of those defeats proved to be particularly frustrating for Armstrong as his side produced another underwhelming display at the International Stadium and extended their run without a win on their home patch to a seventh consecutive game.
There was understandable frustration from the Heed faithful as their side were unable to produce a positive result and performance against their former FA Trophy final opponents - and Armstrong stressed he felt sympathy for supporters and called upon his players to improve by producing a much improved display to defy the odds against Forest Green this weekend.
Consistency
He told The Echo: “It seems like when our backs are against the wall we turn up in games and then when we are expected to get a win it’s the complete opposite. That’s one way to look at it but it’s going to be a very tough game. I watched their game against Aldershot and they’re a big, strong, athletic side and they can mix it up.
“It will be really tough, we have to be at it. You can see we have got it in us but we aren’t consistent enough and I can imagine it’s frustrating for the fans. There is nobody more frustrated than me and I will keep working hard to bring that consistency out of them because we can be better than we have shown.”
Armstrong has confirmed midfielder Jacob Butterfield will return to contention after the former Middlesbrough and Barnsley man missed last weekend’s home defeat.
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