LEE Duckworth says Winsford United’s players should not be downbeat after a seven-match unbeaten run ended at Liverpool last weekend.
Instead, Blues’ boss has urged them to use the disappointment they felt as a spur to start another sequence when title-chasing Bootle visit St Luke’s Barton Stadium tomorrow, kick off 3pm.
“We tend to be at our best when we’re underdogs, so we’ll give it a good go,” he said.
“They watched us [at Liverpool], and I hope they went away with the wrong impression because we were below our best.
“We’ll put that behind us, and try to reach again the standards we’ve set previously.
“I don’t begrudge us losing to a better side if we’ve given 100 per cent.”
Blues’ recent progress will be tested in back-to-back games against two of the best teams in the North West Counties League with a trip to Atherton Collieries to follow next weekend.
A 2-0 defeat on Merseyside followed a draw with Runcorn Linnets, another top-five side, last Monday.
Duckworth said: “We knew this run would be difficult.
“As a manager, I think you learn more about your side during a defeat.
“It’s not a moment to beat ourselves up though, because these lads have done so well in the past six weeks.
“We’ll need to improve all over the pitch when we play Bootle, and not repeat the mistakes we made when we lost 5-1 at their place earlier in the season.
“They were more street-wise than us.”
Defender Sam Parr serves a one-match ban as punishment for his dismissal at Maine Road a fortnight ago.
Danny Hudson (hamstring) is ruled out by an injury, but Brandon Moores and Danny Egan are in the squad after recovering from niggles that have kept them on the side-lines.
Robbie Hatton and Elliot Hull are both unavailable.
Bootle occupy top spot in the table on goal difference from Atherton Collieries after winning eight of their past nine games.
They have won on six of their past seven visits to play Blues in a North West Counties League fixture.
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