Josh admits confidence is suffering after poor form
JOSH STAUNTON admits Town’s confidence has suffered after their poor run of form saw them slip out of the play-off places.
The Shaymen’s 4-2 defeat at home to Notts County on Saturday means they have now only won twice in their last 12 matches, and only won once in the league since the beginning of October.
“I don’t think we’re in the best place confidence-wise,” said Staunton, “But confidence breeds results, and as soon as one thing goes against us, it’s like a domino effect. We seem to capitulate.
“It’s frustrating times, it’s something we’re going to have to look at and address it.”
Pete Wild’s side are one place outside the play-off places, a position few, if any, Halifax fans could have expected them to be at this stage of the season back in August.
“It’s great to be eighth, but if you look at where we could be, eighth isn’t great,” said Staunton.
“We’re still holding onto eighth but after the last 10 games we’ve had, it’s not great.
“It’s easy to sit here and say we’re eighth, but sometimes that’s a negative mindset to be in, because we just settle for being a mid-table team.
“That’s not what we want as a club.
“We’ve all got to pull in the right direction, bad things happen throughout the season, it’s not a straightforward path.”
Town face Stockport on Boxing Day before hosting Chesterfield two days later, and then Stockport on New Year’s Day. Their festive fixtures are then rounded-off with a trip to Barnet on January 4.
“We’re sitting in a good position in the sense that, if we can put a run of results together, we’ll fly up the league,” said Staunton.
“But I think it’s key to stay in and around it come the end of the month, and then we’ll be able to tell a lot more about ourselves and where we’re going to be come the end of the season.”
Halifax led twice against Notts County on Saturday, thanks to goals from Shawn McCoulsky and Jamie Allen, before the visitors fought back.
“For periods of games we’re not far off, but something bad can happen and then we look a team devoid of confidence, and we look like a team that is very fragile when things start going against us,” said Staunton.
“It’s a habit we’ve got to try and get out of.”
Staunton is an ever-present for Halifax this season, returning to his usual role in central midfield in the last two games after filling in at centre-back for a large chunk of the campaign so far.
The 24-year-old arrived at The Shay last summer as a centre-back, but has since been converted to a defensive midfielder.
“I feel comfortable playing there, I think it fits my assets quite nicely,” he said.
“But if we can get back on track as a team then everyone will feel the benefits as a player.”
The former Dagenham and Redbridge and Woking man is satisfied with his form this season, but was disappointed in conceding the penalty which put Notts County decisively ahead on Saturday.
“I think I’ve been doing OK,” he said.
“I was disappointed with the penalty (against Notts County).
“It was a split-second decision, and I thought I’d poked the ball.
“But the penalty was given so it wasn’t the right decision for me to make and I hold my hands up.”
On that defeat at the weekend, Staunton added: “It was disappointing, to lead twice in the game, we’ve only got ourselves to blame.
“They had a lot of the ball but they didn’t really hurt us. The first-half was pretty much a stalemate, there weren’t really any shots on target.
“We got fortunate with the goal, probably against the run of play.
“After taking the lead twice, you’d like to think we’d have held on for at least a draw.”
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