After a poor start to the season, Solihull Moors have managed to turn things around in the last few months. The appointment of Chris Millington in October has led to a solid recovery that has raised hopes of a strong end of the season.
The tactical approach to defence
When Millington came in from FC Halifax Town to replace Matt Taylor, he had to find a way to make the team more consistent. One of the biggest changes he made was to introduce more rigid tactics. By focusing on a highly disciplined 4-2-3-1, Millington has made the Moors harder to beat.
This system places a stable defence above all else. It’s a shift that is seen in their results, with the number of goals being conceded dropping since the new coach arrived. Five clean sheets in his first seven games and just 17 goals conceded in his first 17 league games point to a fast turnaround that has helped Solihull climb the table.
When we look at the LiveScore Solihull Moors scores, we can see how many recent results have been tighter. They’ve gained the ability to grind out wins when it matters most. By keeping up to date with live score flashes, you can see how their games progress and get the news of any major updates right away.
A more clinical attack
While the emphasis on a stronger defence has been a big part of the recent revival, it should also be noted that the attack has become more clinical at the same time. The 7-1 victory against Tamworth on Boxing Day was one of the highlights of the season, showing how the team could rack up big wins when everything clicks into place.
Under Chris Millington, Solihull Moors have become a more potent attacking threat. Part of this success comes down to the way that the goals are now being spread across the front line. Jacob Wakeling is still leading the scoring charts, but he is closely followed by Joe Sbarra, who is on loan from Doncaster Rovers and recently scored a hat-trick in that romp against Tamworth. Bradley Stevenson and Darius Lipsiuc have also chipped in with goals while adding different elements to the attack.
The average number of goals scored has increased impressively since October, reaching around 2.25 at the time of writing. The 5-1 win achieved against Aldershot in January is another example of what happens when the tactics click into place. The team now have a more vertical style where wing play and low crosses to the centre are used to create big chances.
A fresh mental resilience
One of the aspects of this turnaround that’s difficult to calculate is how much the mental attitude of the players has improved. It seems clear that the new manager has brought in a fresh sense of mental resilience that has added to the other changes we’ve already looked at.
When Millington arrived, he took over a team that was rooted to the bottom of the table and low on confidence after a winless start. However, his vast experience in leading FC Halifax Town to the play-offs and winning the FA Trophy means that he has brought a renewed sense of confidence and belief to Damson Park.
His approach has been to stay steady and focused while avoiding talk about promotion, even as they climbed the table. The early-season collapses now seem like just a bad memory, as Millington has installed a mental toughness and staying power that has given them a new look.
Back in the play-off hunt
Combined with the tactical changes we’ve seen, this has led to Solihull Moors looking like an outfit that could be ready to grab a play-off spot. While this seemed impossible not long ago, the team are now chasing down FC Halifax Town and Southend United to secure a spot in the top seven.
One of the possible issues is that several of the teams around them have games in hand still to play. This means that the chance of reaching the play-offs is still relatively slim. Big games against Scunthorpe United, FC Halifax Town and Southend United could define their season. The turnaround has been impressive so far, but it remains to be seen if Millington can lead his team to a remarkable success story.
Written by James Smith
