‘We are desperate to win’ - Russell Penn calls for response as Halesowen Town seek to end slump
Russell Penn says his Halesowen Town are “desperate” to win after “underperforming”, but insists there is no pressure on him or his side.
The Yeltz are winless in their past five matches in all competitions and have surrendered leads twice in their past two Southern Central Premier encounters, including in defeat to Redditch United midweek.
Sitting ninth in the standings ahead of a trip to Banbury United tomorrow, Penn’s side are eager to turn a corner.
“We are desperate to win, and we will do our utmost to get it,” the Yeltz boss said.
“There is no pressure from anyone, we want to win every game.
“What comes with that, is that you want to get a performance first and foremost, because that gives you a chance. However, performances aren’t consistent enough at the moment and that is what we have got to be better at.
“We have underperformed, and we haven’t achieved our goals, in terms of, not just results, but performances.
“We had some frustrating results against Aveley and Leek Town in the cups which I thought we were the better team in, albeit we lost both.
“And we have taken the disappointment of those results into the league. We have picked one point up against Royston and Redditch, games which we both took the lead in.
“I am angry, frustrated and disappointed, I know we can be better.”
Halesowen conceded three goals in a league match for the second time this season against Redditch on Tuesday and have now shipped 15 in total.
Asked if the past week had been one of the toughest during his time at the club, Penn admitted: “I suppose, because we are so close. We are frustrated because we are missing big players who make us better.
“The league is that tight, and you always wonder if you got those points, you are a win away from being in the top three and four, and we haven’t achieved that.
“But, we are where we deserve to be and we have to improve to be where we want to be.”
Elsewhere, league rivals Stourbridge travel to Needham Market looking to end a four-game winless run.
In the Northern Premier League, fifth-placed Hednesford Town visit leaders Lancaster City aiming to bounce back from their midweek defeat at Whitby Town, while 16th-placed Rushall Olympic host Cleethorpes Town.
The Pics are winless in their last six league games and will be desperate to avoid a third straight loss.
Meanwhile, in the National League North, Kidderminster Harriers - winless in four - travel to Chester.
Harriers have lost their past two league matches, and announced that first-team technical assistant Luca Nicosia had been suspended pending an investigation into an incident after last weekend’s defeat to Radcliffe.
The club confirmed on Thursday that Stuart Watkiss has been appointed as assistant manager to Adam Murray.
