Gateshead are in action at the weekend looking to maintain a remarkable run
Gateshead Football Club's Rob Elliot (left) and Louis Storey
Gateshead Football Club's Rob Elliot (left) and Louis Storey(Image: Jack McCraghan)
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Rob Elliot has called on Newcastle United and Sunderland fans to get behind Gateshead's ‘Great Escape’ and ensure a sizeable crowd are on hand for their Non-League Day fixture with Yeovil Town on Saturday.
The Heed were 11 points from safety in the National League table as recently as early February - but a stunning run of form now consisting of just two defeats in their last 11 games has taken Elliot’s side out of the relegation zone.
However, the hard work is far from over and Saturday’s home clash with Yeovil will provide a sizeable test as the Glovers look to secure a third consecutive win of the week when they travel to Tyneside.
Gateshead will head into the game on the back of a remarkable win against second placed York City as recent signings Keaton Ward and Ash Boatswain and player-coach Louis Storey all found the back of the net against the Minstermen.
A crowd of almost 1,700 was on hand to witness the victory - although over 1,000 of those in attendance were in the away end at the International Stadium.
In the absence of Newcastle and Sunderland fixtures, Gateshead are offering up to 20% off ticket prices in a bid to attract further support - and Elliot is hopeful his players can enjoy the backing of the North East football community as they look to take another step towards securing their place in next season’s National League.
He told Chronicle Live: “When we’ve had a good win like that and we’ve played good football, we’d hope it will encourage more people to come.
“It was brilliant support against York and the lads really fed off that. We would ask people to come down and get behind us. It’s a different place to watch football but we will play the best football we can and try to pull of the great escape.
“All we can control is the performances and trying to get the results and we want to try and get as many local people down here as possible and that’s whether they are black and white or red and white. We just want as many people because the lads because what they are doing here is really special.”
Elliot was not the only former Magpie in the home dugout at the International Stadium on Tuesday night as he was joined by former United team-mate Paul Dummett. The Magpies stalwart is helping out at the Heed as he takes his coaching qualifications and they have been joined by Heed legend Ben Clark and Magpies academy coach Mark McCutcheon as they look to guide the Tynesiders away from the relegation zone.
“We have Dummy’s experience there with us and Ben Clark is in the dugout too and they’re stopping me trying to get sent off every week so I need to get better.
“We are fortunate we have some brilliant people behind the scenes. Mark McCutcheon has come in from Newcastle has been coaching with us and he’s been top class. The squad is in a good place and we just need to make sure we stay on top of it to get to where we want to be.”
Despite the understandable positivity that has enveloped Gateshead during their recent upturn in form, Elliot has warned his players they can not afford to settle for their victory against title chasing York and must do everything they can to be ready for Saturday’s game with Yeovil.
He said: “We can’t get too carried away but we can enjoy that one because to get a result against York, against this team in the form they’re in, is a huge achievement.
“Stuart Maynard is a top manager and he has top, top players and we need to enjoy the moment but make sure we are ready for Saturday. We can’t beat York and then let ourselves down by not getting a positive result on Saturday.”
Elliot is likely to be without on-loan Crawley Town defender Ben Radcliffe after he picked up an injury against York but could hand a start to striker Ash Boatswain as he looks to score for the third consecutive home game.
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