Bluebirds boss Wayne Jones expects tough Nomads test

Haverfordwest County manager Wayne Jones expects a difficult test when the Bluebirds face off against the champions Connah’s Quay Nomads on Sunday. 

The Bluebirds have made an unbeaten start to the Cymru Premier season, recording a 0-0 stalemate against Cardiff Metropolitan University and a 2-2 draw with Newtown. 

Sunday’s opponents, Connah’s Quay Nomads, began their competitive season in August when they faced FK Sarajevo. 

Bluebirds boss Wayne Jones believes the Nomads’ early start in pre-season could have a significance in the early weeks of the Cymru Premier season. 

“I think it’s four weeks they’ve been together as a group more than us. They’ve had more competitive games than us, more organised,” Jones said. 

“The likelihood is that they’ll be fitter than us because it will take us six or seven games to get properly match fit.

“In fairness to the league, I suppose they’ve tried their best to neutralise that by allowing them to play against each other first and credit to the league for doing that,” he added.

The Nomads were against the odds in their Europa League tie against Dinamo Tblisi, with three players testing positive for COVID-19, but Andy Morrison’s side were hugely unlucky to bow out of the competition, losing 1-0 late on. 

Despite being uncertain over opponents Connah’s Quay Nomads’ team selection on Sunday, Bluebirds boss Wayne Jones insists the champions will be a tough test.

Jones said, “Obviously, they’ve got their own issues as well mind, last weekend with the COVID-19 business.

“Players who have been tested positive there so whether they’re back in time and have had the all-clear, I’m not sure. 

“Going into this particular Sunday, I’m not really sure what Connah’s Quay team we’re going to play but one thing we do know is that under Andy Morrison, they’ll be organised, fit, disciplined.

“They’re going to work off second balls more than us because they’re renowned for it and that’s what has brought them success. 

“Yes they have an upper hand, but we can only play what is in front of us, we can only prepare that way and we can’t dwell on it because we haven’t got time to.

“We actually play the three teams who have been in Europe in the next six days so we know what we’re going to be up against.

“We’ve got to go into it not focusing on the opposition, but focusing on us because we’re still learning each other and seeing what we can get out of each other and our best solutions,” he added. 

In Sunday’s clash at the Bridge Meadow Stadium, Wayne Jones will face off against Nomads manager Andy Morrison, who was named Cymru Premier Manager of the Season in the last campaign. 

Jones has hailed the job Morrison has done whilst at the Nomads. 

The Bluebirds boss said, “Going back, it was five years ago when he was appointed because I think either his first or second game they came down to Haverfordwest and they were bottom of the league at the time and obviously, I was in charge at Haverfordwest then and we were two or three places above them.

“I knew of him but got talking to him and he’s a nice, humble guy. He’s got this persona of being this big, tough guy but he’s a really nice gentleman when you speak to him. He’s always got time for you. 

“I remember when I worked up at Aber for a couple of years, I was suspended to the stands and he wasn’t and we more or less sat next to each other watching the game. 

“I think the job he’s done is fantastic and nobody can take that away from him. He’s a winner, a leader and probably where he’s come from, his background as a player, put him in really good stead. He’s got the utmost respect of his players and I think he demands that as well. 

“Off the field, he’s a character and a footballing man who wants to win everything.

“When you look over at the opposition dugout, you’re thinking you want to be like that and if you can follow anything he’s done in the game, especially winning the title last year, you’re not going to complain.”

(Featured Image: Mike James)