Taylor: We must keep the faith (06.01.06)

AFTER grabbing a point at Eastbourne Borough on Saturday, and producing an encouraging performance in the defeat to Farnborough Town on Monday, Carl Taylor is convinced his team have psychologically turned the corner.
However, he is the first to admit that these could sound like hollow words until the perceived improvement is turned into cold, hard points.
The Magpies supremo said: “I know I’m starting to sound like a stuck record, but we are improving all the time.
“You only have to look at the match at Farnborough Town on Boxing Day and then the Farnborough match at our place on Monday to see that.
“I can’t believe that any team near the bottom is playing as well as we are.
“So I think it’s just a matter of maintaining our self-belief and commitment levels, and things will turn in our favour.”
The gods certainly conspired against the Magpies on Monday against Farnborough Town.
Holding a one-goal lead with 15 minutes remaining, two goals in two minutes – the second of which had more than a slice of luck about it – ensured the hosts ended the day still searching for their first home win of the season.
Although Taylor is frustrated by leading in consecutive games but only coming away with one point, he is certain there are more positives than negatives.
He said: “I can’t fault the players for their commitment, but when we get ahead we have started to get anxious.
“The mental side of the game is something we have to work on, but we have plenty of resolve and spirit.
“We came out well in the second half against Eastbourne, and played really well against Farnborough Town, creating numerous chances to wrap it up.
“The Farnborough manager told me he was relieved to get out of the game with anything.”
He added: “We are a young side and that shows, but we’re improving and gaining more understanding all the time after working hard on the training pitch.
“To be honest I’m looking forward to playing teams like Weston, Yeading, Bognor, Basingstoke, Newport and Carshalton. I think we’ll surprise them, but we need to maintain the levels we reached against Farnborough.”
While belief and hard work are key ingredients to Taylor’s plan to move the Magpies out of the relegation zone, he is also striving to get the balance of the squad right.
So more players are expected to be coming in, one or two of which could be at the club in the next seven days.
Taylor explained: “I’m talking to a few clubs about players. I know what we need, but other clubs are after these players also.
“It’s all part of the building process which will keep us up.”
And, as he is first to admit, that is his main aim.
He said: “My job is to keep us up and I know I will do that.
“You just have to keep believing in yourself and the hard work will be rewarded eventually.”

Tomorrow (Saturday) the Magpies entertain mid-table Sutton United, with Taylor predicting the visitors will have to be at their best to win.
The Magpies might count new striker Eugenio Valentin in their ranks, and Nana Badu is back from suspension, but surprisingly is likely to start at centre-back.
Taylor said: “Nana is an experienced player and used to play at the back at Millwall until he got knee injuries.
“I’m confident no centre forward will get the better of him. He’s strong and he’s quick.
“He’ll certainly do a job for us.”
Skipper Matt Glynn misses tomorrow’s game due to suspension, and Ryan Johnson continues to be sidelined by injury.
The club has received a seven-day approach from Chesham for John Bacon.

The man of the match award has been re-introduced by Maidenhead United with the award going to Stephen Hughes and Lee Newman for the Eastbourne Borough and Farnborough Town matches respectively.