Aldershot News reporter, Rebekah Wheller has reported that Terry Brown took advantage of a rare Saturday off last weekend to go and watch basement boys Crawley Town taking on top side Accrington Stanley, who face the Shots at the Recreation Ground tonight, ko 7.45pm.
As well as checking out the competition for tonight, with Crawley's entire playing squad on the transfer list, the boss also took the chance to look at potential targets to bring to the Rec.
In the Crawley squad on Saturday was former Shot Chris Giles, whilst another player at the Broadfield Stadium thought to be interesting Brown is former Farnborough Town defender Sacha Opinel.
“Crawley played ever so well, and we may well have a look at some of their players to bring between now and the end of the season.
“They've got some quality players, we've had a look at Sacha [Opinel] and Ian Simpemba, Chris Giles played very well on Saturday. There are various options we've got to take over the next couple of weeks,” added Brown.
The transfer window closes in just over two weeks' time, (Thursday 23), giving the boss scope to bring in targets, with a view to signing them for next season.
“There's not millions of players available but I am only interested in bringing players in that could be with us next season.
“It's all very well Crawley saying that their players are available for free but you've got to come up with their wages,” added Brown.
Whilst casting his eye over potential recruits, Brown also saw what is in store tonight in champions-elect Accrington —and he was boosted by what he saw.
“Accrington played badly on Saturday but they still won so that's the mark of a good side. We're playing them at the right time I think, and a defeat might do them good.
“They looked very much like we did in our last couple of seasons in the play-offs, they're trying so hard to get over that finish line that you become almost paralysed with fear,” added Brown.
With several fixtures called off at the weekend in the Conference due to inclement weather, Stanley's 1-0 win against Crawley, thanks to a Gary Roberts goal, leaves them 16 points clear at the top.
And Brown knows that they take on Stanley in their finest run of form, unbeaten since October 15 (when they lost 3-1 at Stevenage), and winning every game bar two in those 17 games. Indeed they have won their last NINE consecutive games.
“Tonight's game is one we're really looking forward to, we've got nothing to lose so we will be going all out on the attack, we've got enough quality in the side to do that.
“We've got a great opportunity to go and express ourselves and enjoy the top side coming to us. We've got 12 games left and our aim is to score more goals than the opposition, starting tonight.
“It might sound obvious, but our problem hasn't been so much scoring goals, as it's been keeping clean sheets. We have to score two or three to win, if we can get those goals and it leads to a ten-game winning run, who knows what could happen,” added Brown.
Indeed, there are a couple of factors going in Aldershot's favour for tonight's anticipated fixture, of Stanley's four defeats suffered over the season, three have been away from home.
Then there is of course, the Shots' enviable home record, themselves unbeaten in the League since late September at the Recreation Ground.
The weekend off gave Brown the opportunity to see those carrying knocks get the rest they needed, and he now believes the side is fit and fresh to face the League leaders.
“Everybody looks great, there are no injuries to anyone and we're all raring to go,” Brown added.
The only player missing will be full-back Matt Somner, who starts a two-match suspension for accumulating five bookings for the second time this season, in addition to a red card.
As a result, Tobi Jinadu is likely to be drafted in having performed well at Hereford last Tuesday, with Lewis Hamilton covering at right-back.
Stanley boss John Coleman is likely to be without skipper Peter Cavanagh (ankle), and midfielder Robbie Williams is out suspended.
Michael Welch, who missed Saturday with a migraine is set to return to contention.
With thanks to the Aldershot News.