The Debrief: 'Emotional' Connell Rawlinson has Chester on brink after true grit at Oxford City
The Blues can secure a play-off place with victory over King's Lynn next weekend
Connell Rawlinson is usually pretty swift when it comes to speaking to the media post match.
A debrief of the troops in the dressing room and he’s up to lay out his thoughts to the press. The form of recent weeks has made it a pretty easy task for the interim Chester manager, who has led this Blues side to the cusp of a play-off berth that had seemed unfathomable at the turn of the year.
Even after the late defeat to Southport last month, that was enough to sound the death knell for Chester’s play-off hopes in the minds of some. But the games kept coming, and Chester kept winning. AFC Telford United, Macclesfield, AFC Fylde all came and were conquered, the latest victim being an Oxford City who are far better than their lowly position suggested.
“Had to compose myself,” quipped Rawlinson. “I’m pretty emotional after that.” The battling nature of the players had struck a chord for an interim boss who had built a strong playing career, the kind of player to push further to get the job done. It was the mentality that he had wanted to see reflected in his players.
Oxford had a record of three wins and two draws coming into the contest, with just one defeat in 10 games. But first-half goals from Fin Shrimpton and a Tom Davies blockbuster ensured Rawlinson’s charges made it five wins on the spin.
