Revived Horndean looking to continue run of good results at Hamble Club
Michael Birmingham expects Horndean to keep up their excellent work ethic on their Wessex League Premier Division visit to Hamble Club (3pm).
He is also aiming for a fourth successive away clean sheet.
'We appear to have got our appetite, hunger and desire back,' said Birmingham.
Tuesday’s 0-0 draw at second-placed Stoneham - who had won their previous nine Wessex matches - followed a 4-0 win at Shaftesbury and a 2-0 success at Brockenhurst.
'Against AFC Stoneham, our goalkeeper (Lloyd Thomas) didn't have a save to make,’ said Birmingham.
'That was all down to the players in front of them doing their jobs.’
Birmingham deployed a three-man central defensive system at Stoneham, with captain Ash Howes in between Jack Lee and Louis Martin, with Fuzz and Tee Kanjanda as attacking wing-backs.
'We have gone back to basics and knowing where we need to be out of possession,’ Birmingham added.
'For an hour, I thought we were the better side against a team who are flying at the top.
'It is always important to do the ugly work first and if you do that then the quality of your football can come through.'
A win at Hamble Club could lift Horndean back into the top three - above Lymington Town.
But only Alresford and Bashley have won more home games in the Wessex top flight than Hamble’s eight.
Former Gosport striker Nathan Lynch has scored braces in each of the last three wins - against lowly trio Cowes, Bournemouth and Shaftesbury.
However, Hamble go into this weekend’s showdown on the back of their heaviest loss of the season - a 5-0 midweek caning at Hamworthy.