FC Halifax Town: We must be mentally strong for the run-in, says Heath

Halifax face a trip to crisis club Worcester on Saturday aiming to extend their unbeaten run to seven games, and could climb as high as third in the table with a win.

Town have beaten fellow strugglers Altrincham and Nuneaton in their last two games, and Heath sees similarities in his team’s challenge on Saturday.

“It’s a mental thing, like at Altrincham,” he said. “No disrespect to them, but they are bottom of the table for a reason. To me, the Worcester game is like the Altrincham game.

“In these game there are certain difficulties to overcome with the mental side of the game.

“That’s down to the players, they’ve got to be professional.

“If we’re not prepared, not right, not mentally strong, we won’t get the three points.

“Every game is difficult, and we’ll expect nothing different on Saturday.

“It’s been a difficult place to go before and it may prove that way again.”

Heath is pleased with his side’s progress as they head into the home-straight of the campaign, but is determined to maintain their recent good form.

“We’re in a good place at the minute,” he said. “Last week we won - without wanting to sound bullish - and we didn’t get out of third gear, which is good.

“But we don’t want to get carried away - every game is a challenge.

“We have to put everything into every game. If we do that - if we put the work rate and the effort in - then the quality is there.

“But it doesn’t work the other way around. The effort and the work rate has to come first.

“But we’re in a good run of form, we’re scoring goals and we’re keeping clean sheets, which is hugely important.

“We look full of confidence, which only bodes well for the run-in.

“We’re at the business end of the season now and this is where we have to be mentally strong.

“The players are coming in after games and shouting out results all over the place.

“It’s good that we’re nicking points off other teams and we’re gaining two on this team and three on that team.

“But we have to keep the focus on what we’re doing.

“There will be times when three points is massive and one point is massive for us.

“But we have to keep the unbeaten run going - that’s what I’ve said to the players.

“There’s no guarantees but we look in a good place to do that. The players are working hard and that’s the main thing.

“It’s the most basic thing in the game but hard work is the key.”