Bully salutes resurgent skipper

Stafford manager Steve Bull has saluted the resurgence of captain Wayne Daniel ahead of the rearranged trip to Gateshead tonight (7:45pm).

The longest-serving player at Marston Road endured a torrid 2007/08 along with the rest of the Rangers defence, leaking 99 goals in the league alone on the way to relegation from the Blue Square Premier.

This season, although they are playing at a lower level, has seen some much improved defensive form from a new-look Rangers defence, with the team recording five clean sheets in nine Blue Square North outings.

Skipper Daniel had led the charge - with his attitude impressing the manager.

Bull said: "For me, Wayne Daniel has come back a different player this season. I had a chat with him in the summer and I told him: Listen, I want you to buck your ideas up.

"He has come back having taken notice. He is in great shape and has a new determination about him. Now we are seeing the effects on the field.

"With the new defenders around him, I think he feels a lot more confident. It is a great feeling when you can rely on the people around you to do their job.

"Defenders are, after all, a unit."

The rearranged trip to Gateshead - all 202 miles of it - catches Rangers in the midst of three games in seven days, ending with a trip to Coalville in the FA Cup on Saturday.

Bully's side are enduring a test of their mettle - and that is fine by him.

He said: "The games are coming thick and fast now. I don't mind that. Once you start getting a break in the season, the lads tend to take their foot off the gas.

"If we were on a losing streak, I would probably want a break. Results are good at the moment, so let us keep the gas cooking.

"Trips like Gateshead in midweek kills the players who are working, The club tried to get it moved to a free Saturday but we couldn't. So that is the situation. People will moan and whinge but we may as well just don't get on with it.

"We will be going down there to win and, believe me, that trip home will fly by if we are coming back with three points.

"An incentive for the players is that, if we win, I will probably say to them: I will see you on Saturday morning. If they don't do the business, I will probably haul them in for training on Thursday night!"