Cheltenham Town manager Michael Duff admits that he is encouraging his players to “take more risks” in order to improve their form in front of goal.
The Robins are the joint lowest scorers in Sky Bet League Two going into their weekend home match against Stevenage, with the gaffer encouraging more in the attacking third now that the team have found their defensive structure.
“The shape and the structure of the team looks better now but something I’ve said even before and after the game is that we need to be better with the ball.” said Duff.
“We need to take a few more chances and a few more risks by coming out of our shape a little bit so it’s alright to have structure and framework but there needs to be the other side to the game which is a little bit of confidence and putting yourself out there to make mistakes."
“That’s the next part but there’s a lot of work going on, I’ve said from day one that it isn’t going to happen overnight."
“The work is still going on and that’s the next point so when we lose the ball now we have got a shape and a structure so now we can be a little bit looser when we have got the ball and come off our shape to find little pockets and little angles which is something we need to work on.”
Duff stresses that confidence is key as Cheltenham embark on three consecutive home games in seven days.
“I can’t make the players pass the ball, but we can give them options and patterns, that’s something we can help with to give them the confidence to make a mistake,” he added.
“If they make a mistake then don’t worry about it because you know what’s going to happen now. If we do lose the ball, then it’s a case of getting back into shape."
“That’s the process and it will take a little bit of time and there’s still a long way to go."
“I said after the game there’s absolute total belief in what I do, and I’ve got the belief in the players here as well, there’s definitely enough in the dressing room. There’s no panic stations yet.”
Help back Duff's men by joining us at the Jonny-Rocks Stadium on Saturday! Tickets can be bought from the ticket office right up until kick-off and can also be collected on matchday.
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