Darren Sarll says he believes his Yeovil Town side are getting back on a run of form having gone three matches unbeaten with a goalless draw against Solihull Moors today.
The point against the visitors, who moved in to sixth in the National League table with the result means, the Glovers have now won one and drawn two of their last three matches, having lost their previous six in all competitions.
Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Ian Randall after the game at Huish Park, the manager said he was pleased to have another match coming up on Tuesday night at Wealdstone to try and keep the momentum going.
Sarll said: “I feel we are back on a mini run now. We go (to Wealdstone) with a lot of confidence.
“We have conceded one goal in three games, I know we have only scored one (well, W*ymouth scored the other for us – sorry Adi) but defensively we have given ourselves a really strong foundation to move forward from again.
“The players will come out from seven days with belief they can defend and keep clean sheets and that gives us confidence throughout the team.
“The team knows they only need one or two chances to win a game and that is probably the team we are, and we either make the most of those chances and take the three points or don’t and settle for one – but at least we are settling for points.”
He described his back four of Mark Little, Ben Barclay, Luke Wilkinson and Morgan Williams as “a different class” as they kept out a Solihull side which had scored 15 times in their previous four matches
But, for all their defensive qualities, the lack of a goal-scorer was painfully apparent as the Glovers drew a blank in front of goal.
Sarll said he believed Joe Quigley, who was departed for Chesterfield last month with chairman Scott Priestnall blaming falling attendances for the sale, would have “thrived” on the chances created today.
He said: “We obviously need a centre forward of a Rhys Murphy-type, who is going to concentrate on goals.
“We have Adi Yussuf who is a wonderful foil and Reuben Reid who is excellent with his back to go, but we could do with another.
“But, we are working with what we have, I don’t see any cavalry coming to support, so we have go to keep improving them as players.
“The more they get in there, the more they will have seen it and the more they will go through the process of what is right and wrong.”
Sarll said agreed with the interviewer that the best chance of game fell to Charlie Wakefield as the first half drew to a close.
The former Chelsea youngster burst clear of the Solihull defence, but his effort was saved by the foot of Moors’ keeper Ryan Boot.
The manager said: “(Charlie) is re-training because he’s been a wide player all his life, but, because of his pace, he creates a different type of chance than those we have been creating.
“So we have to allow him the experience of getting in to those positions and having time to think about it before he makes the next step of being a potent goal-scorer. I think Charlie can get there.”
Jordan Barnett, who limped off after 22 minutes this afternoon with an ankle injury, is “one of two or three” injuries which the boss will be taking in to the midweek trip to Wealdstone.
But, the manager praised Barnett’s replacement, Lawson D’Ath, who played the rest of the match despite it being only his second appearance after a nine-month lay-off through injury.
Sarll said: “I asked (Lawson) if he could achieve 70 minutes and he said ‘of course’, like they always do, but at the end there he had a little stretch off where cramp was starting to seep in.
“Straight away when he came on he turned the momentum of the game because he’s such an intelligent footballer.
“He takes up the right positions with no preparation in that role and he handles the ball beautifully, so to get him through 70 was great which will hopefully stand him in good stead for next Saturday (at Eastleigh).
“I’m not sure his body will allow him to go again on Tuesday, but maybe.”