Non-league previews: Boss Ian Rowe battling injury crisis at Sporting Khalsa
Sporting Khalsa manager Ian Rowe is battling an injury crisis that has damaged his title aspirations from the start of the season.
Rowe said nine players have been missing from action in recent weeks including attacker Andre Landell, who has served a three-game suspension after a red card against Corby Town last month.
Without the forward, and several others, including summer signing Christian Green and defender Luke Ward, Khalsa have lost all three of their last Northern One Midlands matches and five in their last six - including a 2-1 defeat to Anstey Nomads last Tuesday.
Boss Rowe has been frustrated by his side’s injury problems and will miss tomorrow’s game where Khalsa host Wellingborough Town due to other commitments.
“We have got an injury crisis and we are not having the greatest luck with injuries and during games,” said the Khalsa manager. “I have been around football long enough to know you need not create your town luck at times.
“But even on Tuesday night they had three shots at goal and win 3-1, we have had ten and out of those the there is about seven chances.”
Despite their injury woes, Khalsa still sit fourth and within the play-off spots, but 21 points from runaway league leaders Quorn.
Rowe added: “I’m not going to lie I had aspirations of winning the league with the side I had assembled. We have a really good side.
“The three games we have lost we quite easily could have won all of them.
“Any advantage we had with our games in hand is gone because we have lost the last three, and we haven’t capitalised on the opportunity to close the gap on those above us.
“Now we are looking at the teams below us because we have not got away from them. Now we are back to a level playing field.
“We had a massive advantage three weeks ago in terms of being embedded in the play-offs, now we are hanging on with four or five teams breathing down our necks.
“It’s still in our own hands in terms of a play-off push, but at the same time we need to fix up and quickly to make sure we maintain that.”
Elsewhere, seventh-placed Darlaston Town visit AFC Rushden and Diamonds while troubled Lye Town entertain Long Eaton United.
In the Northern One West, Stafford Rangers welcome Mossley While fifth-placed Chasetown visit Trafford, and Hednesford Town will look to end their winless run of three league games at Atherton Collieries.
