WE’RE BACK TO BEING GOOD SPORTS AGAIN!
JAMIE HOWELL says the pieces are falling into place at Eastbourne Borough – especially now they’ve stopped the early baths!
The Sports boss, who joined the club in the summer just days after leading Bognor Regis to Ryman Premier play-off glory, is pleased with the start his side have made to the National League South.
Ahead of the weekend they were tenth in the table after just one defeat in nine games.
The run came after they lost the opening two games of the season – and kept having players sent off.
Nucleus
“In the first three games we had four sendings-off,” boss Howell said. “It was a disaster. Everything that could go wrong did go wrong. Since then we’ve managed to keep 11 players on the pitch and that certainly gives you more of a chance to win matches.
“Four red cards, you’re thinking it’s a team of thugs. But one was a last man and the others soft – a shirt tug here and then two minutes later in a 50-50 tackle were they were a fraction late.
“We spoke to the lads about not putting ourselves in that position. If you’re on a yellow card you can’t go for a 50-50. You have to be 100 per cent certain you’re going to get the ball.
“But the side is taking shape. It’s looking like one of my teams and I’m pleased with the progress.”
Howell knows it takes time to get ideas across to a new group of players as they become comfortable with the demands being asked of them.
“I did quite a lot of chopping and changing,” Howell said. “We had a good nucleus but I’ve only really got four or five from last year. It takes time to gel but we’re getting there.”