Paul Quinn is happy with his Brighouse side’s start, but feels they have been hindered by injuries
Brighouse Town have made a good fist of life in the Evo Stik Division One North so far this season, according to Paul Quinn.
After winning their opening two games, Brighouse have drawn two and lost three, but they have had to cope with a crippling injury and suspension list.
Key players Danny Nadiole (knee), Ernest Boafo (knee), Chris Fisher (lung infection), Leon Henry (hamstring) and Tom Matthews, who has now returned to the side, have been missing.
Brighouse’s bad luck was compounded in the 3-1 defeat to Droylsden when returning winger Danny Hull, signed from Farsley the day before, had to go off just two minutes into the game injured.
Brighouse host Prescot Cables tomorrow and Quinn says his side are positioned well in the league.
“If someone had said to me at this stage we would have eight points, I would have taken that, especially with the run of games we have had,” he told Non League Yorkshire.
“We’re coming up against some massive clubs at this level and we’re finding our feet.
“For me we have really positively. Last Saturday was a really tight game, but teams have big resources.
“You have to look at the Salford story on Monday with the Valencia owner going in and buying 50% and that is what we are up against.
“I keep harping on about it, but we have come up the leagues and we are a small fish in a big pond and we have to realise that.
“All I ask of the lads is that they keep learning game on game. We have to prioritise the games we need to win.
“We know every game at this level is going to be difficult, whereas in the Northern Counties there was the odd game where you could probably guarantee three points.
“That’s not the case at this level, but we just have to keep going.”
Nadiole and Fisher will be out for a bit longer, but Boafo and Henry are rated 50/50 for the visit of Prescot and Quinn believes the injury list is the only thing holding Brighouse back.
“I think what we need is players coming back,” he said.
“We need to be able to be somewhere near full-strength. We have been massively hit with injuries and suspensions in the last three or four games.
“We’re not desperate for a win at this stage at all and if we can get a win tomorrow, great. But it is the performances that are the main thing at the moment.
“We need to keep putting those performances in because the results will come, I have no worries about that.”
Their problems have also forced them into changing their renowned style of play which was vital in their ascent to the Toolstation NCEL Premier Division title in April.
Quinn added: “We have changed it and it was probably a mistake.
“We have let teams have it at the back and dropped off and that’s not our game. Our game is to win it high up and try and press.
“We have tried to keep things tighter. We need to get back to what we do naturally well.
“We have been forced into playing 4-5-1 because we have had Tom missing and Ernest has been injured.
“We have been trying to hit sides on the break. On Saturday we went with three upfront after 25 minutes and we looked a different side.
“I think we just have to be braver against the bigger clubs.”