Defiant Holbeach United manager Seb Hayes reckons that his side are just one result away from an upturn in their early season fortunes.
The Tigers – tipped by many as title hopefuls – lost their Future Lions UCL Premier Division opener 3-1 at Daventry Town and were beaten 3-2 at Deeping Rangers in the Emirates FA Cup on Saturday.
Hayes admits that his side have been slack at both ends of the pitch so far this season, but is confident that things will take a turn for the better when Kirby Muxloe arrive at Carter’s Park on Saturday (3pm).
However, the Tigers chief is refusing to under-estimate a Kirby side that have conceded 11 goals in their last two games, insisting that they’ll fancy their chances too.
“On paper we’d probably fancy ourselves on Saturday,” said Hayes. “But they’ll fancy their chances of coming to our place and winning too – I would if I was their manager.
“We can’t take anything for granted after the start to the season we’ve had.
“I’d expect Kirby Muxloe to come and shut up shop and attempt to make things as difficult for us as possible.
“The goals that we’re conceding at the moment have certainly been avoidable, but we have to bare in mind that we have players that are building up their fitness.
“The strikers aren’t taking the chances that they’d expect to take either. But they’ve been working their socks off and I know that the goals will come.
“I do believe that we’re just one performance away from pushing on – and the lads are saying the same.
“We’re two games into the season and haven’t won a game yet. But last season it was the exact opposite. I didn’t get carried away then and I’ll not get carried away now.
“I believe in this team and I’m sure we’ll change our fortunes. We just need a performance when all of the departments play well and things click into place. We may be just one result away from that.”
Holbeach are again without key central defender Jamie Stevens, while captain Nick Jackson has left the club for Wisbech Town (see page 37).
Midfielder Spencer Tinkler, who took the armband at Deeping last weekend, will retain the captaincy moving forward.
Visitors Kirby Muxloe were thrashed 6-0 at home by higher-graded AFC Mansfield on Saturday and lost their last away game 5-1 at Desborough Town.
They did, however, beat Whitworth 3-1 on the opening day of the season.
