By Rob Carbon
History shows The New Saints don’t take kindly to losing and Caernarfon Town had better brace themselves for a backlash when they visit Park Hall tonight in the JD Cymru Premier.
Last weekend’s 4-1 home reverse to title rivals Connah’s Quay Nomads allowed the reigning champions to return to the top of the table. The two teams will meet again in Deeside on Saturday night.
In the meantime, TNS boss Anthony Limbrick will be looking for a reaction from his players similar to the one that came after their other defeat this year, at Haverfordwest County.
Three days after that 2-1 defeat in Pembrokeshire they fired in five goals against Cefn Druids and followed that with a 6-0 win over Flint Town United.
You have to go back to the Europa League game against Bulgarian champions Ludogurets at The Racecourse on 15 August, 2019, for the last team they conceded four goals in a competitive game and even further back, to 30 September, 2018, for the last time they let in four goals in their domestic league.
That was at Cardiff Met, where they were beaten 4-1, and much work needs to be done this week if they are to get back on course for another title.
Uchafbwyntiau | Highlights@tnsfc 1-4 @the_nomads #JDCymruPremier pic.twitter.com/v9PrONKNZe
— ⚽ Sgorio (@sgorio) April 26, 2021
“The players were told after the game on Saturday that it is unacceptable for a TNS team to lose at home by that many goals. There will be changes on Tuesday night so we can get back on track,” said Limbrick.
“If we had gone into half-time at 2-1 down, and we’d scored our penalty, it could have been a much tighter game, but it wasn’t. We didn’t defend well enough as a whole team.
“It was very disappointing given how tight it is as the top of the table. We have to go again against Caernarfon and pick ourselves up so we can have a go at the Nomads again on Saturday.”
Andy Morrison’s Nomads don’t play until Wednesday night, when they face a tricky trip to third place Bala Town, while the other game in the Championship Conference sees Penybont host Barry Town United.
In the Play-Off Conference, Newtown will be hoping to continue their rich vein of form and move further ahead of down on their luck Haverfordwest County at the top of the table, having overturned a nine point deficit with four wins and a draw.
They host Flint Town, while Haverfordwest entertain Cardiff Met, who beat them 6-1 earlier in the month.
Aberystwyth meet bottom of the table Cefn Druids in the other game.