FC Halifax Town defender Scott Garner insists The Shaymen need to rediscover their early-season belief if they’re to end their six-game winless streak.
Goals from Joe Pigott and Jai Reason earned Maidstone United a 2-0 win at MBi Shay Stadium on Tuesday, enough to see the Kent side leapfrog Town in the National League standings.
Without a win since a narrow 2-1 victory at home to Bromley a month ago, Garner is confident that Halifax can bounce back from their recent run provided they believe in themselves and make the necessary improvements.
“It was a very disappointing result,” Garner said.
“The players are down in the dressing room – but we’re good at picking ourselves up and going again.
“We know we need to do better, we have to start showing more self-belief and positivity in our performances.
“Taking the game to our opposition and backing ourselves to win individual battles and second balls – that’s what we’re normally very good at we have to put that right.”
A scintillating period of momentum to open the campaign saw The Shaymen challenging towards the top of the table, however form has dipped noticeably in a miserable October, with Garner willing to claw tooth-and-nail to earn that elusive victory this weekend at Tranmere Rovers.
“We’re desperate to finish as high up as possible. It’s been a bad run of five games without picking up many points, and we’re not in the position our early-season form warranted.
“We need to get back to basics and play our way again. If we need to be direct or scrappy to get the three points, then that’s what we’ll do.
“We need three points from the next game, and if we can claim them, the tables turn, and we’ll be full of confidence heading in the right direction again.
“It’s been a good start to the season and we’re still in a strong position – we’d like to have more points on the board but that’s something we can work on.”
Despite viewing the referee’s second-half penalty decision as unjust, Garner insisted that refereeing decisions weren’t responsible for Halifax’s defeat.
“The penalty’s a harsh decision in my eyes, but if our performance was better it wouldn’t have been a problem so there’s no excuses.
“It’s down to us to provide better performances and earn three points no matter the circumstances.
“It’s all down to belief – we know the players we have available in the dressing room, and I think we’re an incredibly solid squad.
“We have to stick together, and I’m confident that once we start creating chances again we’ll be putting the goals away.”
Watch the full interview in addition to all the Maidstone post-game reaction and highlights by subscribing to Shaymen TV.
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