The only way is up if we stay positive, says Nixon
ARDS manager Colin Nixon has told his players to stick together and results will turn.
Nixon’s men dropped to the bottom of the Danske Bank Premiership after losing 2-0 to Newry City last weekend and today travel to a Glenavon side itching to return to winning ways after taking only one point from their previous three league games.
Glenavon boss Gary Hamilton would have settled for being in third position at this stage of the season, but for Nixon it has been one problem after another.
At one stage he had 10 players out injured, his side have consistently lost late goals which has harmed their cause, and key player Jonny Frazer has announced he is off to Australia in January.
On the upside, Ards have taken four points out of six against Linfield, though those results have been the exception rather than the norm.
Former Glentoran great Nixon still has plenty of belief in his players ahead of this afternoon’s clash at Mourneview Park.
“We are very close to results, we are within touching distance, the boys are doing the right things and working hard and I’m sure it will turn round, and hopefully we can do a bit of business in January and bring in someone who can help us score goals,” says the manager.
“I think for most of the season our performances have been better than results. I’ll admit at times we haven’t played well but, on the whole, we have played very good football and been a match for any team we have played and it has not translated into results.
“At the end of the day it’s results that count. It’s all about winning points. Goals change matches and, unfortunately for us, we are not scoring enough. “Also, the luck we have had has been awful, so that has to turn too. We had a period when we had a host of players injured and they were all attacking players.
“I said to the boys this week that we can’t go any lower now and we have to stick together as a group, believe in what we are doing.
“And I’ve no doubt that we will soon get positive results.”
On Fraser’s impending exit Down Under, Nixon added: “It’s a bitter pill to swallow because Jonny is a very good player for us, but we have to get on with it.”
Long-term injury victim, striker Sean Noble (left) is now starting his rehabilitation after an operation on his knee.
Nixon said: “Sean successfully went through his operation this month. Every part of his knee was reconstructed.
“As a club we stood by him and sorted out his operation and will continue to stand by him while he goes through his rehab.”