WORCESTER City have to start seizing the initiative if they want to remain in the Blue Square Bet North play-off hunt, according to assistant boss Matt Gardiner.

City‘s 3-1 defeat at Harrogate Town last Saturday was their second in under a week following the home loss against Solihull Moors seven days ago.

They remain sixth in the table ahead of this Saturday’s visit of Guiseley and are still just two points outside the play-off zone following Altrincham’s 2-1 defeat to Workington and Gainsborough’s FA Trophy commitments.

But they have played four more games than fifth-placed Trinity and three more than Altrincham and, following recent displays, Gardiner says they have to start taking responsibility for their own results.

“Sooner or later we’ve got to grasp the nettle and we’ve got to get on the front foot,” he said.

“You can’t rely on anybody else, you can only rely on yourselves, that’s true in life not just in football, and that’s what we’ve got to do now.

“As a group we’ve got to look forward, focus on the positives, address the negatives and put them right.”

He added: “We’ve got 13 games left and we’ve just got to do the best we possibly can in those. If we get the performances, hopefully the results will come, we can’t concentrate on anything else.

“Yes, we’ve lost two, we didn’t want to do it and things have happened in the game that we didn’t plan for but we’ll bounce back and go again. One result isn’t the end of the world.”

Gardiner, however, was full of praise for the club’s fans who made the long trip to Yorkshire only to see their side lose.

“I was really impressed with the supporters,” Carl Heeley’s deputy said.

“They stuck with the team all the way through. We gave them the goal at the end but I wouldn’t have blamed them if they’d got off early but they all stopped after the final whistle and clapped every one of the players off.

“I think they can see the effort is there so it’s hats off to them. I think they’ve been a really good example of how to support the club.”

Gardiner added: “The fans home and away have really supported the lads and there’s nobody more disappointed than the players and myself and Carl.

“We don’t want results to happen like that, the players are trying and for the fans to stick by them like that is credit and testament to them.”