Kevin Maher wants his team to build on a positive week of training and return to winning ways when Altrincham come to Essex tomorrow.
Blues’ 11-game unbeaten run came to an end with defeats to Gateshead and Aldershot, and Maher’s men return to Roots Hall after three weeks away for the first of four home games in December.
Following another week with no midweek fixture, Maher was pleased with how his team trained ahead of the visit of the Robins.
He explained: “So much good work has gone in. The players are disappointed because we hate losing and it’s not something we’ve been used to recently.
“You lose a bit of confidence when you lose games, so it’s important to train properly, which they’ve done this week. We’re looking to get a performance first and foremost and hopefully then the result will come.
“It’s been nice to have a full week of training. We got some good work in so we’ll be prepared for Altrincham. The things that I can control are within the training ground.
“We’ve got to focus on football and this is a good environment for the players to work in. They’re brilliant in terms of how they are every day and they’re always willing to improve.
“It’s been disappointing to lose the last two, but we’re still fifth in the league so we know a lot of positives have gone on recently with how we’re playing. We’re looking to get back on track.”
There were more than 700 Shrimpers supporters at both the Gateshead International Stadium and the EBB Stadium, and Maher said the fans’ support will once again be important in getting the most out of the players.
“We’re strong at home, and with our crowd behind us, we’ll always look to take the game to the opposition.
“The disappointing thing is that we took so many fans to both Gateshead and Aldershot and we didn’t give them anything to cheer.
“It wasn’t for a lack of trying from the players and hopefully we’ll put that right in front of a good crowd on Saturday.”
Altrincham, who went full-time in the summer, have recovered from a difficult start to the season to sit eight points above the relegation zone as the campaign approaches its halfway point.
On Phil Parkinson’s men, Maher said: “Altrincham have a way of playing which hasn’t changed too much.
“They’ve got some real dangerous players in attacking areas and they’re in good form, so it’ll be a tough game. We’ve got to put our imprint on it and dictate the tempo of it.”
Tickets for Saturday’s game, which kicks off at 12:30pm, are available here.