Leo Duru admitted Carlisle United were left frustrated by Saturday's goalless draw with Kidderminster Harriers, but believes there are signs the Blues are moving in the right direction.
United extended their unbeaten run to three games and kept a clean sheet at Brunton Park for the first time this season, although they were unable to turn their chances into goals.
“Disappointed. I think it was a weird game,” said Duru.
“Off the back of two really positive performances, you turn up today and it wasn't good enough from the boys, and we all know that.
“We battered them really, but we just couldn't put away the chances.
“We need to carry on building on it. You look at the positives, it's a clean sheet, but we know that we need to do better.
“I think we've turned a corner, so I think it's going to start going up from there.”
The Blues found themselves drawn into a scrappy, stop-start encounter, with Duru admitting they struggled to impose their own style on the game.
“I think we played into their game a bit more than we wanted to.
“What the gaffer wants is to implement our play style on the teams that we play. I think we struggled to do that for whatever reason today.
“Kidderminster wanted to play a more scrappy game and we kind of played into that. It just needs to be better.”
Despite creating opportunities, United were unable to find a way through a well-organised Kidderminster defence.
“When you come up against teams like this, the most important thing is to be clinical and kill the game off.
“When you play against teams that want to sit in and defend the box, and to be fair to them, they did it really well, we need to put away our chances and make them come out of their shape.”
Duru was named Player of the Match following another lively performance down the right, but the defender insisted his own form means little without victories for the team.
“It's a bittersweet feeling. I'm obviously happy that I'm performing decently, but the bigger picture is the team getting wins.
“I think it is coming. When we start working better as a team and doing what we're doing in training, implementing the play style and the patterns of play, then it's going to come.”
While the Blues were unable to make the breakthrough, Duru was encouraged by another solid defensive display.
“We defended really well. I don't even know if they had a shot really. I think they had maybe two shots on target and Ads (Adam Desbois) didn't really make a save in the second-half.
“The positives are there, the clean sheet and a good defensive game.
“We just need to start finishing more chances, but that's the whole team, not just the strikers, and making better decisions.”
With an Emirates FA Cup tie against Tamworth next, Duru is confident the Blues can build on their recent performances as they look to turn an unbeaten run into victories.
