Ballinamallard manager Gavin Dykes has admitted his side must improve their defending if they are to climb clear of the relegation zone.
After a thrilling high scoring draw against Carrick the Mallards have conceded eight times in four matches, and the manager knows it is a problem that must be solved quickly.
“We are giving away goals and we have to stop that,” he acknowledged.
“We are trying to play and trying to attack. It has left us a bit open at the back but we are working on that and we will be on the training pitch again this week looking to get it right. We should have more points on the board of course but that will come, and generally we are quite happy with where we are going. It will be a difficult task but we will improve.
“From what I have seen so far we will be able to compete in this league and we will get better. We have to keep going and keep going and keep going.”
At the other end of the pitch there are signs that the Mallards may pose more of a threat in front of goal this season, with the home game against Ballymena the only game they have failed to find the net.
At Carrick late strikes from Adam Lecky and Ryan Mayse secured their first point of the campaign, and despite not taking the win the manger was keen to take a positive outlook on the match.
“It was just a crazy game. It was very open, but there were positives there,” said Gavin.
“When you score three goals away from home and get a penalty you would want to be winning the game but we were 3-1 down and the boys showed great character to get back. They never gave up. I always said we would create chances and I suppose the most disappointing thing about Ballymena was that we didn’t so we looked for a good quick start against Carrick and for twenty minutes we were very, very good.
“Then we started panicking a bit at the back and stopped passing the ball and they scored because we didn’t switch on at a corner kick and people didn’t do their jobs. That was a wee bit disappointing.
“At half time we said we would go back out and have a go, and we went back out and conceded a goal from kick off and the heads dropped for five minutes and we conceded another one. Then John Currie came on and Ryan Mayse came on and changed the momentum of the game. They made a great impact, and in the end we were disappointed not to win it.”
Ballinamallard’s next challenge comes in the shape of Cliftonville.
The Belfast side have never lost at Ferney Park, with the Mallards only win against them coming at Solitude in their first season in the Premier League.
Gavin believes there is still plenty more to come from his players however, who will be keen to treat the home fans to a better display than the one they witnessed in the previous home game.
“Against Ballymena we lacked energy, we lacked pace, enthusiasm, but there are still a couple of lads getting up to speed and we are not yet as fit as we should be,” said Gavin.
“It is only Gary Armstrong’s second game and he knows he knows he has to do better, because I do think he will go on to be a quality signing for us. Young Liam Flately started off very bright in pre-season and got an injury and he’s back now to where he should be, so there are positives.
“I know some of the lads in the Cliftonville side and I know the captain who worked with me in Sligo. They are a very good side but I want to try to create chances and score goals and entertain.”
There were no fresh injury concerns after the Carrick game but Johnny Lafferty missed the match through injury and he remains a doubt for this weekend.
David Elliott will return to the squad after being rested.