Liam McDonald lays foundations for success at Rushall Olympic

The Pics have progressed well since 33-year-old McDonald took the reins in October.

They have gone from second bottom to 14th in the Evo-Stik Premier and they beat league leaders Altrincham 2-0 last weekend.

On a four-game winning run, they host Shaw Lane tomorrow and McDonald said: “We’re in good form at the minute.

“We set ourself a target, to get six points from the Ashton United game (which they won 4-2) and the Altrincham game.

“We know what Shaw Lane will bring, we’ve watched them, and we’ll have to stand up to that.

“There is a big buzz about the place. There is a buzz around the dressing room.

“We are confident, feeling good about ourselves, going into the game.

“There’s not a lot to play for at this stage of the season, but we’re trying to instil a winning mentality.

“We’ve won our last four games. We may soon find it’ll be a game too far as the lads have worked really hard, but the aim is to make it five wins in a row – to keep it going for as long as we can.”

Shaw Lane have had a solid first campaign at this level, despite being on their third manager of the campaign, and sit just outside the play-off places. The Pics went down to a 2-0 defeat in the reverse fixture at the beginning of September, but things have changed a lot at Dales Lane since then.

“We’ll put in a good show against Shaw Lane, I’m sure,” said McDonald.

“When I took over, we were joint bottom and the whole point of me coming in was to stay in this league.

“It was about picking the players up.

“I’m a winner, I always want to win, and I think the players get that.

“We went back to basics and got some scrappy wins, showing that fight.

“Now we have instilled that winning mentality, got some confidence, and we’re playing some good stuff.

“The players are better than where we are in the table.

“We’re better than what, probably, a lot of people think – and Altrincham and other teams have found that out.”

McDonald has previously managed Redditch United, Hednesford Town and Solihull Moors.

He has one eye on next season. On what the aim is for next term, he said: “I think pre-season will be massive for us.

“We know our limits, we’re one of the smaller clubs in the division, but we are a family – from those in the bar to the management team and the players, we’re all working together.”

“We don’t want to be near the relegation zone, that’s for sure.

“We want to be right in the thick of it, that top 10, and carry on building.

“There’s no reason why we can’t go and do that next season. It’s a good place to be.”