Alexander: We are all hurting
MANAGER Graham Alexander says Salford City are ‘hurting’ after their underwhelming start to life in the Football League, but insists they will fight to kickstart their season.
After two wins in their opening 10 League Two outings, the Ammies sit 17th and Saturday’s loss to Crewe Alexandra ensures they are still winless on their travels.
Alexander’s side took the lead against the Railwaymen but crumbled under a second-half onslaught – the fifth time Salford have surrendered an advantage this campaign.
“It’s a mentality issue,” he said. “We’ve got to believe in ourselves a lot more than we are. We conceded goals in the National League, it doesn’t mean we’re a bad team. Mistakes happen with every single player. It’s how you react to those.
“More than anything we have to work on the players’ mentality into taking negative moments in games, putting them to bed and responding in the right way.”
The Ammies have been in front in four of their five matches on the road, and Alexander expressed his disappointment at his side’s tendency to drop points from winning positions.
“If you keep ignoring things that keep happening then you’re a fool, so we have to learn quickly. It’s hurting us. We’ve been in the lead in the majority of games and that was a massive strength last season when we never looked like relinquishing it. We’ve gone up a level and there are better opponents, and maybe that doubt is creeping in the mind of individuals when we make a mistake. There’s two ways of reacting, fight or flight – so there’s only one answer from me, but we need 20 people doing it.” Alexander insists he is not immune to the blame for Salford City’s inconsistent run.
He said: “The responsibility lies with all of us, we never shirk away from that and me, being the manager, the responsibility is with me too. I have to take responsibility before even looking at my players. “My job is to help them play at this level.”