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More in hope than expectation
The official Aldershot website has printed an article by Steve Gibbs on how he sees Aldershot's chances in the play-offs. Below is an edited version:
The Shots have never done things the easy way, but eventually, with the tension threatening to engulf everyone and everything, we limped into the play-offs.
And so, on Thursday, the season starts anew against Hereford – provider of two of the most memorable games in an already stellar season. We go more in hope than expectation, of course, but that’s where we came in, way back in August.
Every victory has taken us further than we could have hoped for, and now it’s time for the clichés to come flooding back; the 2nd place team never wins the play-offs; we’re long overdue to beat Hereford; League placing counts for nothing in a cup-tie; the pressure is all on them; Doncaster went up from 5th last year; evoke the spirit of 87 to beat another Graham Turner team; surely we must win again soon??
Should we just say to hell with everything, have a great time, go for it on and off the pitch, and see what happens? Which is what we’ve been doing most of the season, anyway, and it seems to have worked pretty well up to now!
That’s not to say the team should lose their heads and attack at all costs, but merely to play with a freedom and a conviction born of the knowledge that expectations have been exceeded and anything else will be a glorious bonus. We do seem to play better as underdogs, after all..
Hereford are rightly favourites for the second promotion place, and their fluid attacking play would surely pose a problem for many teams in Division 3, but favouritism can be as much a burden as a spur. And with The Shots having visibly wilted in the final month of a tiring season, perhaps the players can be reinvigorated to produce the ultimate surprise.