Brakes must concentrate on mental side

Manager Paul Holleran has called on Leamington to show more mental toughness after a third successive Skrill North defeat.
Matty Dodd comes in for some rough treatment from Gloucester Citys Tyler Weir. Picture: Mike BakerMatty Dodd comes in for some rough treatment from Gloucester Citys Tyler Weir. Picture: Mike Baker
Matty Dodd comes in for some rough treatment from Gloucester Citys Tyler Weir. Picture: Mike Baker

A last-gasp winner for Gloucester City on Monday made it a weekend to forget following on from Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at Boston United.

After seeing Brakes have much the better of their home fixture with the Tigers only to lose 1-0, Holleran said his side must learn to concentrate through to the final whistle.

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“We didn’t deserve it on Monday. They should have been dead and buried,” said Holleran.

“A few players were disappointed that we’d thrown everything at them and only got a draw and all of a sudden we’ve ended up with nothing.”

The club’s rise over the last 13 years, culminating in their impressive march to the Southern Premier title, has bred a winning mentality among both the players and fans.

But with little to choose between top and bottom in the Conference North, Holleran believes a more phlegmatic approach will need to be adopted if his side are to start climbing the table.

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“The mindset has got to change and we’ve spoken to the players about it.

“The mindset at the club for a long time has been win, win, win.

“But at this level you take your points.

“If we had stayed switched on we’d have had a draw at Hednesford and a draw against Gloucester.

“That would have given us five points and you’d think one defeat from the opening four games is not a bad start.

“Now it looks a poor start.”

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Brakes travel to Colwyn Bay tomorrow without Craig Owen, who suffered a recurrence of his hamstring injury against Gloucester before entertaining Altrincham a week tomorrow.

The clash with Altrincham marks the first time Brakes have been at home on Non-League Day and will see all Premiership and Championship season ticket holders admitted to the New Windmill for half price.