Witton Albion boss Tony Sullivan will tell players to tackle Marine match like any other

John Shaw and Jamie Rainford, both former fans’ favourites at the Arriva Stadium, are likely to start for the visitors.

But the Albion boss believes they have nothing to prove.

“If you let the heart rule your head then you’ll end up sat in the stand after being sent off,” he said.

“Those players going back to a place where they’ve played before will be told to perform in the same way they have done for the past few weeks.

“If they allow emotion too much influence, then they won’t be in the proper frame of mind to get a result.

“I want Marine to do well, and will be rooting for them to stay up.

“Of course Witton is what matters most for me, as it does for my players. Our task hasn’t changed; we need to pick up as many points as we can as quickly as possible.”

Shaw was picked by Marine’s management team as their player of the year last season.

But the 28-year-old left in October, and has been one of Witton’s most impressive performers since arriving at Wincham Park.

Meanwhile Rainford has scored five goals in his past four league appearances, including a double against Nantwich on Boxing Day.

Albion start tomorrow’s head-to-head six points clear of their hosts after achieving an initial target of starting 2015 outside of the Premier Division’s bottom four.

However they will be without defensive duo Ben Harrison, who has joined Nantwich, and Sam Barnes who is on holiday.

Sullivan expects his side’s spirit to be unaffected.

He said: “We felt things happened on Boxing Day that were unfair on us.

“The performance on the pitch wasn’t about Ben Harrison; it was about making sure our ethic stayed the same and we picked up three points.

“That has to be how we approach every game, whether we’re away to Marine or Skem.

“It’s not a six-pointer on New Year’s Day, although I expect some people to say it is."

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