Video: Common boss focusing solely on next game

Little Common player-manager Russell Eldridge insists he isn't looking beyond the next game even though his team is within two points of the league summit.
Russell Eldridge lines up a tackle on Billingshurst forward Sean Curley.Russell Eldridge lines up a tackle on Billingshurst forward Sean Curley.
Russell Eldridge lines up a tackle on Billingshurst forward Sean Curley.

The Commoners will hit the front in Macron Store Southern Combination Football League Division One if they win at home to AFC Varndeanians tomorrow (Saturday, kick-off 3pm) and leaders Saltdean United drop points at Southwick.

Eldridge said: “I don’t really look at league tables to be honest; all I care about is the next game of football. It’s important you don’t look too far ahead because if you do that you lose focus on what’s important at this moment in time which is the next game. If we can keep picking up three points that’s the most important thing.”

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Common possess the best goal difference in the division, have scored more goals than anybody else and nobody has lost fewer matches.

Russell Eldridge lines up a tackle on Billingshurst forward Sean Curley.Russell Eldridge lines up a tackle on Billingshurst forward Sean Curley.
Russell Eldridge lines up a tackle on Billingshurst forward Sean Curley.

“The mentality and the attitude of the boys is fantastic at the moment,” continued Eldridge. “There’s a good togetherness amongst the group, and a real desire to achieve and do well.

“But we won’t get carried away and it’s all about the next game because you can only take three points at a time.

“We’re second in the league and teams are going to raise their game against us. They’re going to try a little bit more and we’re going to become a bit of a target where teams want to take points off us. We have to be on our guard all-round, and make sure we don’t allow any slip-ups and keep that momentum going.”

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Common will seek to extend their unbeaten home league record to 10 matches against a fourth-bottom Varndeanians side which they drew 2-2 with in September’s reverse fixture.

Zack McEniry blocks the path of Sean Curley.Zack McEniry blocks the path of Sean Curley.
Zack McEniry blocks the path of Sean Curley.

“We’ve got three home games coming up,” added Eldridge. “We’re unbeaten at home still, which is massive, and we’re going to have to have another solid performance and be looking to get that three points on the board.

“We chucked away the lead at Varndeanians and we’ll be making sure we do everything we can to get the three points this time.”

Common will also be in action on Tuesday night when they travel to Premier Division leaders Shoreham in round three of the Parafix Sussex Senior Challenge Cup. Kick-off is 7.45pm.

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Billingshurst wide player Paul White seeks to skip away from the Common defence.Billingshurst wide player Paul White seeks to skip away from the Common defence.
Billingshurst wide player Paul White seeks to skip away from the Common defence.

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Russell Eldridge lines up a tackle on Billingshurst forward Sean Curley.Russell Eldridge lines up a tackle on Billingshurst forward Sean Curley.
Russell Eldridge lines up a tackle on Billingshurst forward Sean Curley.

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