Fylde's perfect February pleases player-coach

They trailed 14-0 against Blaydon on Saturday but rallied to claim victory and move 19 points clear of the relegation places.

He said: “To get five points out of a game against Blaydon, making it three in February when our backs were against the wall, that is an achievement.

“Blaydon are a very good side and they are fighting for their lives as are we to an extent, and it was never going to be the prettiest of games.

“We made a lot of mistakes in that first 20 minutes and it cost us. To be 14-0 down it took some early substitutions to turn it round.

“We made the substitutions after only 18 minutes but it was needed and we got back into the game.”

Arnold would not commit to saying that Fylde were completely safe from relegation, preferring to leave it until was ‘mathematically certain’ as he put it.

He said: “I want us to push and try and get as high up that table as we can.

“Maybe there will be less pressure on us now.

“The ball will stick a bit more and it may be a chance to look at a few younger lads, looking forward to next season.

“We knew January was going to be a horrible month and we knew in February we had to get three wins. Now we have a bit of breathing space.”

Fylde have no match on Saturday and Arnold will give the players a break, which he says will help them physically and mentally.