Lancaster boss believes poor run could be the making of his side

The Dolly Blues slipped to a 3-2 defeat to Kendal on Boxing Day, their sixth in seven Evo-Stik First Division North games.

It was a game that summed up City’s problems so far this season as they fought back from a two-goal deficit only to see a point slip from their grasp.

Peacock however is still confident his squad can turn things around, starting with two games in three days, a trip to Clitheroe on New Year’s Day before hosting Bamber Bridge at Giant Axe on Saturday, January 3.

He said: “It’s a real learning curve for me and the players.

“We’ve got to dust ourselves down, take it on the chin and learn from our mistakes.

“The young lads are learning but we need to stick together.

“I’m positive about the new year but we just need a bit of a rub of the green.

“We’ve still got a good squad even if confidence isn’t that high because of the run we’ve been on.

“We’re not playing poorly, we’re just making mistakes.

“But I think we’ll come out the other side better as a team and as individuals.

“I’m really looking forward to the new year and starting to pick some results ups.”

The City boss’ life hasn’t been made any easier by a raft of injuries to key players with problems with illness leading Peacock to go as far as to cancel a planned training session this week.

The former Newcastle and Blackburn defender was to a degree relieved to see Sunday’s game at Northwich Victoria postponed due to a frozen Giant Axe pitch.

Peacock said: “I think it was a blessing in disguise.

“Garry Hunter, Ryan Winder, Tom Kilifin and Aaron Taylor would have all missed out.

“It gives us a chance to get players refreshed for Clitheroe and Bamber Bridge.

“There’s nothing lost missing one training and I felt it was better for the players to stay away from each other.”

Hunter played through illness in the defeat to Kendal while Kilifin missed out with an ankle injury but his injury is not as bad as first thought after an x-ray revealed no chips or fractures.

Taylor limped off in the defeat to the Mintcakes with an ankle injury of his own with both he and Kilifin set to miss the Clitheroe game.

Ryan Winder’s groin injury is likely to keep him out until mid-January.

Jacob Davis, Simon Wearing, Lee Dodgson and Tom Woods have also all been battling illness in recent weeks.