Ablett: Warrington helped us win title

2:27am Friday 16th May 2008

Comments (4)   Have your say »

GARY Ablett believes the Warrington public played a key part in Liverpool Reserves' march to the Barclays Premier Reserve League title.

Liverpool, who had previously won Barclays Premier Reserve League (North) by a massive 13 points, were crowned national champions last week when they beat southern champions Aston Villa 3-0 in a play-off at Anfield.

It is the first time in eight years that the Reds have been national reserve champions and second string boss Ablett reckons his side were aided throughout the campaign by impressive support at The Halliwell Jones Stadium.

Liverpool played seven matches at The Halliwell Jones during their first season in Warrington and Ablett says he will be delighted for his side to play in the town again next year, providing assurances can be given over pitch problems that forced their last two games to be switched to Wrexham.

Asked whether the support - crowds averaged at 3,968 in Warrington - helped the reserves to get the results that put them on course for the title, he said: "I think it has, I'd have to say.

"It's a shame we couldn't finish the programme there. Obviously we'll speak to Warrington over the summer to hopefully get some assurances about the pitch and if we get those, then we'll be back again.

"We've got a fantastic fanbase there, the people of Warrington and Liverpool have turned out in their thousands to watch us.

"We hope that, once we can get together with Warrington in the close season, we can find some common ground and go forward together because I think it's been a very good partnership.

"Everyone would prefer to play in front of people and I think it has felt like a home for us. We feel as though we've settled in really well.

"We've had great facilities and have been very well received and looked after.

"The only problem is sorting the pitch out but we must not forget that predominately it is a rugby ground and Warrington Wolves want it the way they want it.

"We have to accept that but, if we can find some common ground, we'll be more than delighted."

The crowd of 10,546 for the Manchester United game surpassed even the 7,580 attendance for the play-off final at Anfield, when goals from Krisztian Nemeth, Jordy Brouwer and Lucas Leiva secured an impressive victory against an experienced Villa second string.

Ablett has hailed his side's performances during the season and suggested there are hopes that regular reserve left back Emiliano Insua and midfielder Damien Plessis could now break into the first-team squad on a consistent basis, having appeared in the Premier League in the last few matches of the season.

Ablett said: "I think it shows how far we've come that we've actually managed to win the title.

"It shows that we've brought in some very good young players with the mixture of the young players we've brought through the Academy.

"The difficult thing is now trying to repeat what we have done this year.

"It's difficult to single out one or two players because at various times during the season they have all come to the fore.

"But I think it's no secret that Insua and Plessis have managed to get into the (first team) manager's plans in the last week or two, so they're two that we're looking at to push on.

"And hopefully there are two or three who will have done their chances no harm at all."