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More hard work needs to be done.

19/ 9/2007

HATTERS boss Jim Gannon has acknowledged that more hard work will have to be done in order for County to get back on the winning track.

Gannon was speaking after watching his side draw 1-1 at Grimsby on Saturday, a result which leaves County in 14th place in League Two, and without a win now in six league and cup games.

County have still only lost once so far this term, but four draws out of six league games means that they are still short of the chasing pack, although it is still early days yet of course.

Gannon said: "Two or three players were colossal for us again today, and there were a few others who were a bit below their normal game.

"I’m never fully pleased with any performance, but there were aspects today that I was pleased with.

"Matty McNeil and Ashley Williams were outstanding last week, so it doesn’t surprise me that they both shone again today, but faults and issues I have with certain individuals’ performances are still there.

"We’ll have to continue to work hard at our game."

Gannon added: "One point per game isn’t enough to get you up the table though, we need to get two or three points per game.

"When I say two, I mean over the course of a season because if you get that you’re near the top of the table, if you get one point per game you’re at the bottom. That’s the plain facts.

"Six games without a win is the reality for us now, although we might have had a little more luck in a couple of those games.

"But the harder you work the luckier you get, we need to work harder at our game and improve."

One or two eyebrows were raised when Gannon opted to replace Adam Proudlock in just the 38th minute at Blundell Park, but the Hatters boss explained his decision.

He added: "Everybody judges Adam on his goals.

"I looked at his overall contribution to the game today and too many times after the ball went to him, the next player that had it was a Grimsby player and he’d be playing it back down the pitch.

"I couldn’t allow this to be tolerated for much longer than 35 minutes.

"Anthony Elding was itching to play, so I said ‘on you go, son’.

"You have to give Adam credit for his goals, but if Anthony and Matty continue to work hard then there’s a combination there that could work."

THE County supporters club has organised a fans’ forum for tomorrow night [Thurs], with Jim Gannon and Peter Ward set to be in attendance. The forum, hosted by Ken Boxhall, gets under way at 7.30pm and will be held at Edgeley Park in the Sapphire Suite.

All fans are welcome to attend.