Darren Sarll says that although the camp is far from ecstatic after a run of bad results, everyone involved is still in a positive state of mind heading into Saturday’s game against Northampton.
“Monday morning people certainly weren’t coming in doing cartwheels, overjoyed but there is still a positivity about us that we are going to go out and win games, of course there is. Anything other than that would be ridiculous.
“It has been positive again, it has been a strong week again, it has been a clear week again. It has been nice to have some people back on the training pitch to get some time in them and we will go again.”
One of those back in training was top goalscorer, Chris Whelpdale who has been out since Boxing Day with a groin problem.
Sarll believes that Whelpdale brings a lot more to the team than just his goals.
“He did some work with us today so he is very close. It is day-to-day at the moment and we need to review again tomorrow but he was out here today so that is a plus and a bonus for everyone to see him back out on the pitch.
“I think it is more than that with Chris. I think it is that experience, that seniority and he has got a physical presence about the way he plays. He understands the game, he has played in every possible system going and he will bring a steadiness, a balance and a calmness to us. Obviously people would look around and see their top goalscorer in the side which brings another bit of positivity and belief to us as well.”
With league leaders Northampton being Saturday’s opposition, Sarll believes that it is vital the side get off to a good start and get back to playing like the team that took to the field under his first few games in charge.
“We go into every game with the belief that we can win it, we do. It is going to be important that we start our way, at our tempo and we try and get a foothold in the game and we start to dominate football matches.
“The last two games we haven’t dominated early on enough. We haven’t sent a presence or a message to the opposition to say, ‘This is how we play, this is what we are going to do, we are going to get a foothold in the game, we are going to make sure we move forward together and we are going to play in this manner’. We haven’t done that enough.
“That will be the first thing, to reassert our dominance at our place on the opposition. We have to get back to being that side again, that really positive, free-flowing side that has that bit of steel.”
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