No kneejerk reaction in bid to bounce back vows AFC Fylde boss

Challinor told The Gazette: “It’s just the next game. Playing a team in and around you it’s a chance to pick up three points and deny them the three, but what is important is that we get back where we want to be.

“I think you have to go back to 2014 to the last time we failed to score in consecutive league games and we have to put that right.

“We had opportunities in both games. Leyton Orient defended well, were well organised and we didn’t put them under enough pressure.

“Tuesday was different and was a scrappy affair. We had the best chance of the match, when Jonny Smith went one on one with the keeper, and we got caught by a sucker punch.”

After an outstanding run which yielded 19 points out of a possible 21, Fylde have won one game in five but Challinor does not feel there has been any loss of momentum.

“I don’t think the performances in the last few games have been a whole different to those in the winning run” he explained.

“I don’t think we’ve ever been in form or out of form. It’s just the nature of this league that all the games are closely fought.

“We’ve been in virtually every game and only twice have we lost by more than one of goal – and one of those was when we had a player sent off early against Maidenhead. We always know we’d lose games in this league. Did I expect to get so far into the season without losing consecutive games? No.

We have bounced back before and we have to again. Everyone is fit, available and in the right frame of mind.”

Fylde can still boost their squad this season, not that Challinor is anxious to do so for the run-in.

He added: “We are constantly looking. It’s mainly with a view to next season but you’d be daft not to look to improve your squad this season if the opportunity is there.

“But we are in a good place and there’s no need to get players in unless we’re sure they are the right ones.”