It’s back to league action this weekend as United face Crewe Alexandra in their latest League Two outing, and manager Keith Curle spoke about the need to take the cup performances into the league games on a more consistent basis as preparations for the fixture gather pace.
“We know the performances are there, but we also know we’ve been slightly disjointed in some of the league games, although we have been very competitive in them,” he said. “We’ve created chances and we know goals change games. Part and parcel of football is errors, mistakes and decision making.
“Some of the goals we’ve given away, you wouldn’t say we’d been broken down, we have individually pressed the self-destruct button. Players don’t go out wanting to make mistakes, we don’t send them out in a negative frame of mind, we’re all about what we can do to hurt the opposition in the final third.”
“This game gives us a good chance to build on a strong performance from the weekend,” he added. “The expectations will be slightly different because people will be coming into Brunton Park talking about the 5-0 away win at Crewe, and thinking we should be getting a hatful again.
“The players will have roles and responsibilities and we will create opportunities. Within that, we need an understanding of their strengths, because they can score goals and cause teams problems.”
“I’m as disappointed as anybody that we haven’t had the results I think some of our performances have deserved,” he admitted. “If we’d won some of the games we should have won, we would now be in a very healthy position in the league. That hasn’t happened, but I won’t moan about it. I’ll keep trying to progress the team and keep the belief inside the changing room.
“I understand there’s an element of disgruntlement within the crowd that we aren’t in the top six - but I want to be in the top six as well. I won’t moan about it, I’ll keep working and trying to develop and improve the players.
“We’re a football club which needs to keep striving for improvement on and off the pitch. There have been big changes in the last three-and-a-half years which has brought more of a feel-good factor around the club, and that is a sign of progression.
“However, we know that positive results will affect that even more. That’s why we will be looking to improve and to climb the table at every opportunity through the second half of the campaign.”
