Woking go in to this Saturday’s game with real optimism around the club following the loan signing of Jack Marriott.

The Ipswich youngster played a crucial part in Tuesday’s 3-0 win against Dartford and claimed an assist and a goal on his debut. Marriott’s Impressive performance amongst goals from Scott Rendell and Joe McNerney gave the Cards their second home win of the season and a win on Saturday could see them leave the relegation zone.

Garry Hill will be looking to do the double over a Hyde side who have failed to pick up a league win yet this season. Woking won the reverse fixture 2-0 in September with Kevin Betsy grabbing a brace to take the three points.

We caught up with Hyde fan @Jamie_McNamee ahead of Saturday’s crucial game at the bottom of the table to see if the Tigers fans are remaining positive –

With nineteen games played you have drawn three and lost sixteen, how has this season started so badly for yourselves?

The season in a whole has been dreadful so far and I think there are certain factors that have contributed to this. The first one is the phenomenon of ‘Second Season Syndrome’ mean that we do not have the element of surprise on a lot of teams in this league anymore. Without a doubt last season the end result as a team was much greater than the individuals placed within the team but on paper this season’s squad is stronger than last season’s. A second factor is our lack of goals, especially when we are on top in games. There have been several games this year where Hyde have started like a house on fire and in some matches have even taken the lead but then that inevitable opposition goal comes all the momentum in the team is lost. The Chester game last week was a perfect example of this. Take the lead early on with a tidy finish by Louis Almond and after near a full half of a barrage on the Chester goal the strike right near the end of the first half and Hyde never really got back into the game up until about five minutes to go being 2-1 down. One last factor is just general bad form by certain players. Our experienced pair of Will Haining and Danny Carlton have been dreadful, Tom Collins early season heroics have seen him demoted to the bench. I could go one but the only real high points this season is our performance against Nuneaton where we should have won that game comfortably but ended up with a 2-2 draw, the recent performance of Louis Almond and on loan goalkeeper Lawrence Vigouroux.

You were confident when we played you in the reverse fixture you would just about survive this season, do you think the squad are good enough and will pick up in confidence when they finally get a win?

Hard to tell if they will pick up in confidence when they finally get a win because reaching that elusive first win seems so near but so far at the moment. We do play some good stuff at times but it is quite annoying at times when opposition fans of other clubs play you and say “I don’t understand how you are winless this year” I do think that when we win a match we will go on a little run of form but unfortunately I think Hyde’s fate in the Conference premier will all ready of been sealed by then.

In what positions have you particularly been struggling and can you see the squad being strengthened in January?

We have seen a chopping and changing at centre Half this season with a total of about 7 different players being played there whether through injury or poor form. The best of them being Glenn Belezika, who is on loan from Oldham. Up front we lack goals from Scott Spencer and Reece Gray who were massive in helping Hyde reach this level two years ago. Do I see us strengthening in January? Hard to tell, depends on who is out there but Hyde will not invest any real money to strengthen due to our tight player budget. I think we will have to get rid of some to bring others in is basically what I think may happen.

Who is likely to pose Woking the biggest threat on Saturday?

Louis Almond, he has been on a good run in the last couple of games. Tricky little winger who can chip in with between 10-12 goals a season at this level and could cause you back four and keeper a problem in the up and coming encounter. Reece Gray with his intelligent way of finding space and threading through balls could also be a real threat.

Finally, what is your score prediction?

Let’s be both bold and stupid here I’ll go with a 3-1 victory to Hyde to break our winless streak.

Questions and article by Jacob Greenwood @JGreenwood91

Photo by David Holmes & Andy Nunn. A full set can be found at wokingfc.co.uk

Come on you Cards!