Bully: Turn it on for Marston Road

Stafford manager Steve Bull has told his players it is time to turn on the style for the Marston Road faithful as they host Harrogate in the Blue Square North tomorrow (3pm).

Rangers could close the gap to a point on their second-placed rivals, firmly cementing their standing in the play-off places to boot, with a victory over the North Yorkshire outfit.

It should be close, with particular irony in the fact that Harrogate have exactly the same record away as Stafford do at home, a point not lost on the manager.

Both have recorded two wins, one draw and two defeats in five games.

Stafford are a force to be reckoned with away, still unbeaten on the road in the league, but at Marston Road it has been a different story so far.

Bully wants something done about it - starting tomorrow.

He said: "It is time to start performing for our home fans and the Harrogate match is a good chance to start. It all depends on how we set up and what frame of mind we enter the match in.

"Looking at their away record and ours at home, I hope it will be a very even game. If it goes down to the one goal, I am confident we will get it. Our defensive record is miles better than last year.

"We will create chances as well if recent matches are anything to go by, so I am confident we can score. We have got a week off after this, so the players can make it easy for themselves, or they can make it hard for themselves!

"I will get the players fired up, don't you worry about that!"

The Rangers boss will come up against a familiar sight in the opposition dug out - Harrogate manager Neil Aspin. The two had countless battles in their playing days, with Bull leading the line for Wolves, while Aspin was the defensive lynchpin for Port Vale.

Bull said: "I know Neil from my playing days and he was a top drawer defender. I think I played in his testimonial as well. He is a friend I have known in football for quite a long time, so it will be good to see him again.

"I will shake his hand before and after the game, but there will be no friends over the 90 minutes. It will likely be the same as when we were playing against each other.

"He would kick me for the entire game and then at full-time we would shake hands!"