Karl Rose has admitted that he “fairly pleased” with how Frickley Athletic have responded to a disastrous start to the Evo Stik Premier Division season.
Frickley won just one of their opening eight league games and were in a desperate position at the bottom of the table.
Speaking to Non League Yorkshire in September, Rose urged his then-ailing team to keep believing and they repaid him with a four-match unbeaten run.
Frickley have flown up the Premier Division and sit in a brighter 17th place – six points above the relegation zone.
Rose told Non League Yorkshire this week: “I think if you take the bones out of the first eight games, we have 20 points out of the last 14 which is comfortable form.
“We have to kick on and try to replicate that. You can always improve, but after 23 games which we are after Saturday, you probably be wanting 30 points.
“We have an opportunity to improve our total, but after the first five games, I’m fairly pleased with how we have turned it round.
“We have to kick on and climb the table. We can put ourselves into a decent position by the end of the month.
“December is a big month for us. We have the quarter-finals of the Sheffield & Hallamshire Senior Cup and games which we feel are winnable in the league.”
Frickley, who visit Curzon Ashton tomorrow, have won their last two league games, but they came crashing down to earth on Monday night.
Frickley were trounced 7-1 at lower-league Harrogate Railway in the Doodson Sport Cup.
Asked if Frickley are still embroiled in a relegation scrap, Rose said: “You have to look at where we are in the league and tomorrow we could go up to 12th.
“Yes we are going to Curzon. If we turn up and it is a big ‘if’ after Monday night and play our game, I’m confident we can get something.
“After the Farsley defeat (in the FA Cup in September), we bounced back and beat FC United and went on a roll by getting 10 points out of four games.
“The form has been very good (since September). Whether it is the Doodson Cup or not, I want to win every game.
“I know you’re going to beat (now and then), but there is a way to get beaten and Monday was embarrassing.
“The positives are that we have won our last two in the league and kept two clean sheets as well as looking very strong.
“Monday came out of nowhere. Yes there was four changes, but it shouldn’t happen.”
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