Composure will be crucial in our battle (From Worcester News)

Composure will be crucial in our battle

9:00am Wednesday 3rd March 2010 in

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IT is my job to make sure I get the best out of the Worcester City players between now and the end of the season.

We have picked up points from matches with Lewes and Maidenhead United but when you are towards the bottom of the table every game is going to be like a cup final.

We just have to concentrate on our jobs and not heap pressure on ourselves. If the players are relaxed, then you get the best results.

I am sure there will be twists and turns before the end of the season but as long as we keep our composure I think we will be fine.

Although Lewes have two games in hand, they have to win both to go above us.

To win back-to-back matches is a tough ask when you are struggling.

I know we have not won back-to-back games in the league yet this season but Saturday’s fixture with Hampton and Richmond gives us the chance to do that.

But, looking back over the last two games, to get a point at Lewes the way we did — coming back from 3-0 down to draw 3-3 — and then to beat Maidenhead 1-0 was excellent.

To take anything from Saturday’s match just shows the determination and character of the lads not to give up.

That was our springboard to try and get something on Monday night.

We needed to win the game but it was the manner in which we did it that impressed me.

We defended properly, kept a clean sheet and I felt we were unfortunate not to win it more comfortably.

The players have always been up for the battle and you cannot question their commitment, work-rate or effort.

Sometimes, they have been a bit naive in the goals given away but that was corrected on Monday and we defended as we should.

I thought goalkeeper Danzelle St Louis-Hamilton, who is on loan from Stoke City, looked very assured and comfortable and he has a presence in the area.

Left winger Tom Beahon made his debut and his work-rate and commitment was excellent.

The one thing that stood out for me was when the ball went over his shoulder and he ran 50 yards to get back.

You need characters like that in the team.

We have left-back Shabir Khan available for this weekend but then he serves a four-match ban.

We are going to miss him but that’s football. We will lose players through suspension and injuries but it is frustrating.

Shabir was back to form against Maidenhead and I am looking for the same from him on Saturday and after his ban.

I should also have midfielder Rob Davies and forward Alfie Carter, who both missed the Maidenhead match due to work commitments, back for the Hampton game.