Find your voice: Simkin's message to Magpies' defenders (From Dorset Echo)

Find your voice: Simkin's message to Magpies' defenders

3:40pm Friday 8th February 2013 in Football By David Williams, Sports Reporter

PHIL Simkin has been loud and clear with the instructions to his centre-back pairing – be just that – louder and clearer.

The county town outfit come up against the Blue Square Bet South’s top team tomorrow and can ill afford to make the same defensive mistakes they have been guilty of in their last three games.

The team has conceded nine goals, including four in the first 10 minutes, with Dorchester manager Simkin citing a lack of communication at the back as a major problem.

Salisbury dished out a 4-0 beating to the Magpies in October and tomorrow's clash at the Avenue (3pm) is likely to be just as tough for the hosts with City sitting pretty in pole position in the table.

And, according to Simkin, Dorchester centre-halves Nathan Walker and Arran Pugh will need to find their voices if they are to keep league top scorer Jason White quiet tomorrow afternoon.

“We are talking about communication between centre-halves which is not something you can teach,” said Simkin. “You can’t play together at the back if you’re not communicating.

“Last season we had Nathan and Mark Jermyn at the back and Jem was constantly talking and organising.

“That’s not really a strong point of Nathan or Arran’s game at the moment.

“Both are good players but you have to talk when you’re playing in their position.”

Simkin has long been an admirer of the way tomorrow's opponents go about their business and is in no doubt that his men can expect them to play like they did last autumn.

“They deserved to beat us 4-0 and played very well,” he added. “They shut down all the space in midfield and don’t give you any room to play and I expect exactly the same this time.

“They’ve got good front players and when they play the ball to them you have to win the first challenge and then the second ball.

“I rate Salisbury as the best side I’ve seen in this division for some time.

“They are full-time with some experienced players and that’s a massive advantage.

“But it would be just like us to go and win.”