MATT Doughty has adopted a Three Musketeers approach to rescuing Altrincham from relegation after asking club stalwarts Robbie Lawton and Graham Heathcote to assist him at The J.Davidson Stadium.

The coaching triumvirate began with a spirited 3-2 FA Trophy win at Blyth Spartans on Saturday, and there were echoes of "all for one, and one for all" about the way interim boss Doughty explained what they hoped to achieve and how they

would go about it.

"Everyone travelled to Blyth, and that's something we are going to do from now on," he said.

"Whether you are in the 16 or not, you travel on the coach with the rest of the players.

"We are a team. We win as a team, and we lose as a team, end of.

"We need that togetherness. It counts for a lot.

"If you are going into a battle, you need everyone together.

"It's the same in football – if one individual goes on his own, you've had it. If you are together as a solid unit, you've got a chance.

"I brought Robbie and Graham in because they have an affiliation with the club.

"When new players come in, they need to be made aware of what it means to play for Altrincham.

"There's no-one better than Robbie or Graham to do that.

"We need to instil it in them that we are battlers who are fighting for this club, and if they don't do the same, they don't get to wear the shirt.

"The first half at Blyth was the best I've seen since I got involved on the coaching side.

"It was always on the cards we were going to get tired, because I don't think we are as fit as we should be, but that is something Robbie will work on and put right.

"It's Macclesfield at home now next Tuesday – a derby to savour and a big crowd.

"I'm made up with that and the way we earned it.

"To a man, the players were fantastic. It was one of the proudest days I've had in football."