Reds Boss Accepts Trip To North Ferriby Is Now Critical

Much was expected of the Reds this season having made a number of good signings but their 3-1 loss at home to Stockport was their eighth in the last nine National League North games.

They are now in the bottom three as other results conspired against them over Christmas and New Year.

But McDermott stressed the positives after pushing promotion-hunting County close.

He now knows the importance of winning at bottom-of-the-league North Ferriby this weekend as they look to save a season which promised a lot in the summer.

"It's deflating for me as the manager, it deflates the fans and the fans are on to you, blaming you and rightfully so,” he told the club’s website.

“We haven't won since November in the league and the reason we've been losing games is not the shape or the play it's because we haven't defended our own box good enough all season.

“I've got to look at the positives from the Stockport game, we created chances and the lads showed effort but I can't knock the players, their keeper has made countless saves in the game. He's done his job and we haven't done ours in the box, they defended their box better than us.

"It's not nice for any of us, especially the fans but we need to keep going.”

With form non-existent, the trip to Yorkshire this weekend could shape the rest of their season according to the manager.

“It's a must win game definately, they haven't won many but they will look at us and say they aren't doing too well either,” he said.

“They have got nothing to lose and they'll have a right go. But we need to dust ourselves down and go again and make sure we do the job and get ourselves out of the position that we are in."