Ogier fails to draw response in mind games

MICKY OGIER has taken a leaf out of the book of top professional bosses to play mind games on Mick Le Prevost. Just like the war of words that is going on between Alex Ferguson and Jose Mourinho before Chelsea go to Manchester United on Sunday, Bels coach Ogier is employing similar tactics on his North counterpart.

The Northerners sit top of the Priaulx League while defending champions Bels, after an indifferent start to the season, are third, but the hot form side.

Tomorrow the big two meet at the Track.

'It's a big game but there's still a long way to go,' said Ogier.

'It's more of a bigger game for them. They've not been in this position for a while.

'I think the pressure is on Mick Le Prevost. The pressure is on him because he's a new coach and he's got to learn to deal with the big games.

'I've played in Murattis and big games. He hasn't.'

Ogier also had a dig at Le Prevost's tactics.

The North coach likes to use Simon Tostevin and AJ Saunders in a 'two towers' strike partnership.

Both forwards are more than 6ft 4in tall and pose a serious aerial threat, so much so that the Bels boss labels them a long-ball team and says that it won't work for them on the champions' home patch.

'The Track won't suit North because they won't be able to play long ball,' said Ogier.

'We did it in the FA Cup against them and hopefully we'll do it again.'

Le Prevost refused to be drawn into a war of words.

'I don't let things like that worry me. He can say what he likes,' he said.

'It doesn't bother me what people think about our team. I'm not one to get into arguments.

'I'll have a say on the touchline but saying things in the paper doesn't bother me. We'll go out and play to our best ability.

'I want to let football do the talking.'

The head-to-head so far this season shows the honours are shared with both sides beating the other twice in all competitions.

One thing on which Le Prevost does agree with Ogier is that even though the match is huge, it's not the be-all and end-all.

'It's a massive game but at the end of the day it's not like whoever wins this wins the league,' he said.

'We've got to play them another four times.'

Bels are on a roll having won three matches on the trot. Their last defeat was at North, when they lost 3-1 on Saturday 30 September.