Poppies urged to sharpen up ahead of derby showdown at Brackley Town

The Kettering manager has been concerned by his team making slow starts to matches, and it was something that was again an issue in Monday’s 3-3 Vanarama National League North draw at Alfreton Town.

The Poppies found themselves on the back foot at the start of both halves as Alfreton netted after just six and then 46 minutes to take 1-0 and 2-1 leads, and they then went 3-2 down before Callum Powell secured a deserved point with an 86th-minute penalty.

The draw stretched the Poppies’ unbeaten run to four matches, and means they have lost just once in their past nine, but it was a match Cox believed the Poppies should have won, and he knows making sluggish starts is something that has to be sorted out.

“I was disappointed with our start in the first-half, and again in the second-half, and these are things we are going to have to improve on, and improve on fast,” said Cox.

“If we can cut those little mistakes out then we can start winning consistently.

“I know people will say that is only one defeat in nine, but I look at the points we have dropped.

"We are always striving, we are always trying to push, always trying to improve, and I think there is a lot of improvement that needed to be added to our performance at Alfreton.”

Talking to thepoppies.online, Cox was asked about the early lapses in both halves, and he said: “It is a state of mind. There is always a psychology in football, and there is always a psychology about approaching a game in the right way.

"There are key moments in games where you have got to do all the really tough stuff, and not the pretty stuff.

“We have match winners, but sometimes it is the horrible parts of the game that we have to improve on, and that is just a state of mind.

“We have some good characters, we have spirit in abundance, and I am all for working hard, but sometimes you need to work smart.

“I just think we are missing a little bit of know-how at key moments in games, and I will have a look at it.

“There is a reason why we are conceding early goals, especially away from home, and we have to nip that in the bud.

“It is a problem for me, but I don’t think it is tactical, it’s not physical, it is more mental, and we have to find a solution to it, which we will do.”

Poppies will now make the trip across the county to take on a Brackley side who secured their fourth straight National League win in a row on Monday, beating leaders Gloucester City 3-2.

Cox knows it is a going to be a serious test for his players, but it is one he is looking forward to.

Poppies and Saints were due to meet on Boxing Day, but the match was postponed, and Cox was glad his side could blow off the Christmas cobwebs at Alfreton.

“It will be another tough game, a local derby and one for us to get our teeth into,” said the Kettering boss.

“It was nice to get the game in Monday having had the game called off on Boxing Day.

“It got some fresh air in the lungs, it got the lads back playing and will hopefully get us into a better rhythm.”