Charles and Herd helped Aldershot to a clean sheet at Rotherham.
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Football: Dodd seeks magical Cup goodbye
By Charlie OliverNovember 05, 2009
JASON Dodd bids farewell to Aldershot Town on Saturday — and a first win under his caretaker management would be just the ticket for all concerned.
Dodd was appointed as ‘academy development manager’ at League One side Southampton — where Dodd made more than 400 appearances — on Wednesday. He takes up the role this coming Monday.
John Leppard, announced as acting chairman of Aldershot Town on Monday evening, said that the club expected to announce a new permanent manager early next week.
Leppard said that the club ‘certainly’ should have the new man in place for the next League 2 game, at home to Macclesfield a week on Saturday, November 14.
As for Dodd, victory in his last hurray would not just be his first across four games but would also build on the impressive 0-0 draw last week away to Rotherham in League Two.
Saturday's match is also against League Two opponents — Bury — but is rather a more romantic affair, in the First Round of the FA Cup.
Victory would not just put a fillip in Dodd’s step as he heads down the M3 to ‘his’ club — it would also provide Aldershot with a little welcome prizemoney, plus the possibility of a glamorous tie in the next round. And who knows what, beyond.
Dodd said that the FA Cup is still the competition that footballers get the most excited about and that he was ‘desperate’ to get Aldershot into the next round.
“We all want to get the club on a run, that would be fantastic. Aldershot are not going to win the FA Cup — but it is a real opportunity to get a run going and to give the supporters something to get really excited about.”
Bury are familiar opponents for Dodd and Aldershot. Just three weeks ago, in Dodd’s first game in charge, two days after he was appointed as caretaker, Bury scored two late goals to win 3-2 at the Rec in League Two. “That game could have been so different, had we taken our chances [Marvin Morgan missed a penalty], when we were 1-0 up," said Dodd.
“But what it did show us is that the top teams, like Bury, will punish you, if you make mistakes. We outplayed Bury and Shrewsbury for long periods — but lost both games. We must learn from that if we want to be competing towards the top.”
Cutting out errors and making the side more defensively sound is what Dodd and his assistant Paul Williams have worked hardest on during their brief time at the club — and it bore fruit last week at Rotherham. That was Aldershot’s first clean sheet of the season, for all the good results gained under Gary Waddock in the first two months.
“We have worked on a lot of things,” said Dodd. “We have not taken away the great attacking element of Gary’s side but we’ve worked on breaking down and frustrating the opposition and that worked at Rotherham. Once we had done that, then we went and played and I thought we could easily have won all three points.
“That the players were disappointed afterwards that we had not won shows how determined they are.”
Dodd is likely to stick with pretty much the same team as played at Rotherham. A scan on Marvin Morgan’s stomach has revealed no damage but the striker is still feeling some discomfort. Even if Morgan is fit, John Grant may have done enough at Rotherham to keep his place in the side.
“Granty’s work-rate was immense,” said Dodd. “He ran himself into the ground and opened up areas for Scott Donnelly to exploit.” Donnelly had been pushed slightly further forward by Dodd, in a tweak to the formation.
The back four of Ben Herd, Anthony Charles, Adam Hinshelwood and Andy Sandell is probably Aldershot’s strongest defensive unit and Dodd described the defending at Rotherham as ‘wonderful’. Dave Winfield is still suspended on Saturday.
“Charlesey has had to bide his time but he grabbed his chance. Ben Herd and Andy Sandell are strong defenders but a threat going forward, too,” said Dodd.
The caretaker manager also talked about the ‘lovely balance’ playing Sandell and Anthony Straker down the left brings to the team.
Hinshelwood’s weak knee means that he is a doubt for every game but Dodd was delighted that the captain had come through 90 minutes last Saturday. “We have to be careful with Adam. He does not train on Mondays and Tuesdays, the priority is getting him right for the weekend,” said Dodd.
Hinshelwood should be fine for Saturday but two midweek games loom in the next few weeks and Saturday's tie could, of course, go to a replay; Hinshelwood is unlikely to be fit for them all.
Louie Soares is a slight doubt for Saturday after missing training with an ankle knock on Monday and Tuesday — but Ben Harding is likely to make a welcome return to the squad, after his ankle injury.
John Halls is also back in light training but is not ready yet for a first-team return.
The last two games between Aldershot and Bury at the Rec have brought 11 goals — so, the perverse laws of football mean Saturday's match will probably end 0-0. Certainly, a draw would be no surprise.
If that does happen, Dodd will be long gone by the time of a replay, in ten days’ time. Indeed, attention is already turning towards who the new man in charge will be — but, before then, Dodd and Aldershot will look to enjoy together a little bit of FA Cup magic, as they bid adieu.
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