Elliot wants united front from Gateshead as push for safety gathers pace
Gateshead will travel to National League rivals Solihull Moors on Saturday.
Rob Elliot has called for a united front from everyone connected with Gateshead as his side look to pull off a remarkable escape from relegation into the National League North.
The Heed bounced back from last weekend’s home defeat against play-off contenders Forest Green Rovers by claiming their first win at the International Stadium since the early weeks of the season when a last-gasp Keaton Ward goal gave his side all three points against Braintree Town. That victory means Elliot’s men have now lost just one of their last five games and have secured three wins during that time to lift themselves from the foot of the National League table.
A visit to Solihull Moors on Saturday is next on the agenda for Gateshead and although they still remain seven points adrift of safety, there is a positive feeling around the club and that has been enhanced by several recent additions settling straight into life on Tyneside. Goalkeeper Adam Desbois produced an outstanding display to keep a clean sheet on his debut on Wednesday night just hours after joining from Slough Town and Zak Gilsenan also impressed after completing a loan move from Grimsby Town.
With all eyes now on Saturday’s trip to the Midlands, Elliot has stressed a successful battle against the drop can be fought if everyone connected with the club is committed to ‘getting better and getting stronger’.
The former Newcastle United goalkeeper said: “This group, the players, the staff, they are giving everything - and sometimes the quality can be up and down, the position we are in you expect that, we don’t get the respect we used to and rightly so because of the position we are in.
“It’s a different barrier for us to deal with and it’s not going to be perfect. But the big thing for me, with this club, and this place, is what started with Mike (Williamson) and Ian (Watson), was that we didn’t have a club and now we do. The most important thing is the club is doing really well off the pitch, we are getting better and getting stronger, we are doing well on the pitch with three wins in five and only lost one, but I just want everyone at the club to stay united and stay positive.”
Elliot will hand another start to Desbois following his impressive debut in midweek and Gilsenan could be handed another chance to shine after producing some eye-catching moments during the win.
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