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Keates: Macclesfield will be a tough test

28 August 2018

Club News

Keates: Macclesfield will be a tough test

28 August 2018

Dean Keates believes Macclesfield Town will provide a tough test in the second round of the Carabao Cup.

The Saddlers progressed to round two with a 3-1 victory at Tranmere, courtesy of goals from Morgan Ferrier, Josh Ginnelly and Zeli Ismail.

Town, like Tranmere, achieved promotion back to the EFL last season and overcame Bradford on penalties in their first-round tie.

They remain winless in League Two this season – but Keates says his side won’t be taking anything for granted.

“Macclesfield will give us a big test - there is never an easy game of football anymore,” he said.

“We enjoyed the win against Rochdale but we have to make sure we are ready for the game against Macclesfield and we will be hoping to send the fans home happy.

“Mark Yates has gone into a new football club and has inherited new players, players who were there before he started. It’s difficult to predict how he is going to play, despite having faced him last season while with Wrexham.

“Should we win, we will have to chance to play one of the big teams, but they will be saying the same thing. They want to play against the Premier League sides as much as we do.”

The Saddlers have won five of their opening six games but Keates certainly isn’t getting carried away.

“We are happy with where we are at the moment but it is all about progression and making sure we aren’t looking over our shoulders come April and May.

“We have got off to a good start but there is a long long way to go - we are in a very good place but we have to go again on Tuesday night.

“It will be a difficult game. We have a couple of lads who are carrying niggles, one or two might come in and it’s their chance to stake their claim for a place in the team.”


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