Toolstation NCEL Premier Division
Rizwan Mohammed says his Albion Sports players deserve massive credit for delivering a really positive start to the campaign for the club.
Albion take a break from league action this afternoon when they host Whickham in the FA Vase in a rare Sunday fixture.
Albion, who were reprieved from relegation last season, have collected 11 points from a possible 21 in the league and also impressed in the FA Cup.
“I wouldn’t say (the start has been) beyond my wildest dreams because I think that is unfair as I know what the guys are capable of,” Mohammed told Non League Yorkshire.
“Everyone has bought into the system we play but I also have to give credit to the club.
“There’s teams in this league with big budgets and it is difficult competing to bring in the right players so we have had to change our strategy and infrastructure.
“We do a lot of video analysis and the professionalism at the club has improved massively and the players have bought into it.
“I think the results show that.
“We have probably surprised (a few outsiders) because in the last couple of seasons Albion have been struggling.
“The surprise started when we got the draw at Barton. In the last game of last season they beat us 5-0.
“The first game of this season finishes 0-0 and I’ve watched the game back and we had some good chances. We could have nicked a result there.
“Even in the Thackley game we should have got the three points. We missed way too many chances.
“It has been a brilliant start and it is credit to the lads.
“Since pre-season it has been about building a team.
“Last season we had good individuals but it didn’t really work out for us.
“It was more about creating a good environment to create a solid culture where every player works hard for each other.
“That has been the key to the success we have had.
“It is not about having stand-out players or big marquee signings, it is about getting lads working hard for each other.
“I tell our lads that we have a very strong squad so the starting eleven can be different from one game to another but be just as strong.”
Defensively Albion have been outstanding.
For a team who conceded 79 times and finished second bottom last season, Albion have leaked six goals and they are a second in the least goals conceded charts.
They also drew 0-0 twice across two FA Cup ties with free-scoring giants Avro.
“It is something we have worked on,” Mohammed said.
“It is credit to the guys.
“We ask them to do a job and do certain things.
“If players don’t buy into it you won’t get results and they have bought into the culture and system.
“We want to be defensively difficult to beat and defensively strong and that’s where a lot of our focus has gone.
“We have started to add goals to our game.
“At the start we became specialist 0-0 merchants!
“We had four 0-0’s and I was scratching my head.”
Although delighted with how the opening acts of the campaign have unfolded, Rizwan remains level-headed.
“We keep going and don’t change anything,” he said.
“We have an identity.
“There’s teams who have big players but may not have an identity.
“That’s one thing we have.
“We have a foundation we can build on and we know where we can improve.”