Published: Friday, 12th March, 2010 5:00pm

Slough struggling with home comforts

Football

Steve Bateman

DESPITE winning their last two home fixtures Slough Town boss Steve Bateman has expressed a worry about playing at Holloways Park.

He does not put their indifferent form entirely down to the playing surface but admits it is a problem and is often easier for them to pass the ball on surfaces away from home, especially when the opposition will be more open.

The Rebels have struggled when teams have come to Holloways Park, been in their faces and stopped them playing, something that happens less on their travels.

However, Slough have won twice at home in the last week, cruising past Soham Town Rangers 2-0 on Saturday and coming from behind to beat play-off chasing Leighton Town 3-1 on Tuesday evening.

Before these games, the Rebels supremo sat his players down for a frank discussion about their bid for a top five finish, he explained: "I had a long chat with the players on Thursday with things that I wasn't happy about. We had quite a good open discussion, I think a few people got complacent, not deliberately but we did enough to get the result on Saturday and then again on Tuesday.

"There's a good positive mood around the camp, no question about that."

"We are looking to have a good go for the remainder of the season. Play-offs look to be our destiny but we play the three sides above us in the last two or three weeks. We can have a real say in what goes on.

"If we can't win it out-right, I'm happy to finish fifth and play away from home in the play-offs because of our playing surface is the worst of the sides in there.

"We've won our last eight away games and haven't been at our best at home but I'm not using that as a factor because we haven't worked hard enough at times.

"We are fast approaching the time when it is actions rather than words. Look at Burnham, they are getting on with it and are top. We've got to try to emulate that and get on with our own business. There's a lot of games to play and points to be played for and won."

Slough travel to Biggleswade Town tomorrow (Saturday) and then have a have a home game against Wycombe Wanderers in the Berks & Bucks Cup on Tuesday evening.

"We seem to have a slightly different mentality away from home," admitted the boss. "Maybe some of the sides are obliged to be a bit more open at home against us and we can pick them off away from home more easily.

"I'm not unduly worried about our home form though, there is enough ability among this group of players to get what we want out of this season. Even if it is out of the play-offs we can get out of this division."