Skipper reflects on play-off hopes

THIS week’s lack of action allowed Tigers skipper James Cotterill to reflect on the club’s fortunes so far this season, and the possibility of a play-off charge.

The centre-half, signed last season by former Worksop boss Martin McIntosh, has been part of a back-four that has struggled at times during the current campaign.

Despite seemingly stemming the flow of goals conceded in recent times with one goal going against them in four outings, Tigers let in nine in their last two games.

The captain has found the goals against column hard to take, but is determined to help restore the form that hauled Worksop out of the relegation places.

He told the Guardian: “It’s been frustrating.”

“We started the season poorly and conceded a lot of goals as a defensive unit, and as a team.”

“Since the gaffer has come in we seemed to shore things up at the back and look a bit more resolute.”

“In the last few weeks we’ve slipped back but maybe it’s the kick up the backside we all need, we do need to be on our game.”

The 29-year-old former Barrow man is hoping that Tigers’ shocking start to the season, when they won just once in 11 fixtures, will not stop them from putting a run of form together to sneak into the play-off places.

He said: “It’s a goal we’ve got to keep open for ourselves, otherwise it ends up being a bit of a non event towards the end of the season.”

“For us to get into the play-offs it’s going to take the kind of run we had when Simon (Clark, manager) and Frecks (Dave Frecklington, assistant) came in.”

“We did it once, we can do it again.”

“It’s down to us, and we’ll need a few clubs above us to drop points.”

Although he admitted he was itching to get back into match action after the two postponements of the FA Trophy tie against Newport, Cotterill was confident the squad would benefit from their scheduled training session this Saturday.

“We were all set to go against Newport, we had done all our preparation and it had gone well,” he said.

“It’s helped that we’ve had no midweek matches and we got set up, had our game plan sorted – and we’ll still have that set in stone.”

“The postponements give us a bit more time but I think everyone is mentally ready for the game.”

“I believe we’re training on Saturday and I’m sure we’ll put in a good session, do some more work on shape and make sure we get it right for next Tuesday.”

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