Salford Still Finding Their Feet In New Season

Salford are three points off the top after being held to a 1-1 draw at lowly Curzon Ashton on Saturday - watch match highlights here.

Harrogate, along with Brackley Town, have been the early pace setters and are yet to lose this season.

Johnson and co-manager Bernard Morley are tasked with trying to out-do Town this evening, but the former doesn't think their side have hit top gear yet.

"We're eight games in and we still look like we're in that transition period which is weird because at the beginning we didn't," he said. "There's always going to be bits where it takes time to gel but after eight games we're looking to be better and be further ahead.

"We said to the lads we need to take a few more risks, take the reins off and be more creative in certain areas.

"The four centre forwards we've got, at this level of football, is unbelievable, we wouldn't swap any of them but we need to start hitting our straps up top sooner rather than later. The positive side is that we're sharing the goals all around the pitch, we're not relying on one player.

With the club well-financed by the Class of '92, Johnson believes everyone wants to beat Salford: "I'm not too bothered about league placings at this stage, it's more about 'one game at a time' nonsense. What we're starting to find out is that every single time we play a game, sides are going to be 100%.

"Curzon got thumped 4-0 at Alfreton, and they play us: they've got an extra 500 on the gate, it's a massive game, they've got music playing after a draw against us. We need to start realising, as a group, that every single team we play against is a cup final for the opposition.

"The minute we do that and can operate with 100% desire for 90 minutes, then we'll be fine. We're still finding our feet a little bit and I'm very hopeful that will come sooner rather than later."

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