Southport manager Liam Watson has remained calm that the tide will change for the Sandgrounders.
He says his side will be going to Darlington looking to attack as he found positives despite his side slipping to defeat against Chester.
It was the Yellows’ fifth defeat of the season as their disappointing run continues. Port have picked up two wins this season, one on the opening day as they put five past Boston United before edging past Darlington.
But despite their two wins, they have only added one more goal during the run – coming from Declan Evans in their 3-1 defeat against Banbury United.
Last time out, they were beaten by Calum McIntyre’s Chester side but Watson feels it was a game they could’ve managed something out of.
He told Off The Park: “I thought the performance was good last night, we certainly didn’t deserve to lose, we didn’t deserve to come away with nothing.
“We’ve had chances which we haven’t been having but we have recently, we hit the post, we’ve had one headed off the line, numerous stuff flash across the face of goal.
“In effect in football, sometimes you need a break, we’re not getting it at the minute and if we carry on playing how we played [against Chester] we will get a break.”
Despite chances from Tyler Walton and Jordan Archer – who hit the post in midweek – their barren run in front of goal continued.
The Port manager believes with their attacking players returning from injury, it will spark a change in their fortunes in front of goal.
He added: “The lack of goals, the forwards have had an excuse, we’ve not been creating chances which is true.
“As the bodies return, Tyler [Walton] was back, Josh [Hmami] was back, Doyley [Chris Doyle] was back, Niall [Watson] got on, Declan [Evans] got through another 90.
“The more of your better players come back in to the team, the more you’d like to think the output and creativity will come back into the team as well.
“We’ve always been a team that’s had a goal in us, we just need to keep on doing the right things, I just need to keep reassuring and make sure the confidence doesn’t drop and keep the faith.”
Southport are continuing their efforts to sign a striker and are close to securing a proven striker with previous links to the club.
Watson continued: “He done it [his injury] a week ago, they’re saying he’s three weeks away, we’ve got the FA Cup this week so he wouldn’t be allowed to play in it anyway, Longridge Town on Tuesday so that’s two weeks gone.
“You’re then only a week away from bringing him in. In the meantime, I need one or two of the others to step forward. Connor [Woods] was better [against Chester], probably need to play Niall down the middle and get him more in the game – use his pace because he had a good pre-season and probably looked the most lively for us.
“It’s just nice to have a few options, nice to have a bench where you can actually bring subs on, that’s not a criticism of the club, criticism of the circumstances.”
But the Port boss played down the setback to their impending arrival will prompt further movement in the market with the return of a number of attackers.
“I don’t think it’s a case of bringing more in, if it was a case of bringing people back in the squad who weren’t available,” he said.
“For us to bring Josh Hmami, Tyler Walton, Niall back in the team, they’re our three most creative players and they haven’t been available so now they are. It [injuries and availability] will always put a different slant on it.”
This weekend they travel to the North East to play Darlington in the FA Cup. Port have already came out on top against Darlo this season.
Watson has stated his side will not be going there to ‘shut up shop’.
He continued: “We can’t go there and be negative because that doesn’t work. All I would say is if we’re in the draw on Monday, we’ve done well.
“We know what we’re going to face, we’re the threats are going to come from, we’ve just got to make sure our threats are there as well.
“We’ve got to be positive, have a bit of a swagger. We’re not going there, certainly not my style, to go there and batter down the hatches and shut up shop. If we’re going to go, we’re going to have a go to win the game that’s without a doubt.”
[Featured image: Julia Urwin – Southport FC]
