Hippolyte's confidence trick

Maidenhead United manager Johnson Hippolyte, never shy of speaking honestly, is the first to admit that his team's lack of confidence has proved a crucial factor in their slump into the Conference South drop zone.

In a candid interview this week, he said: "We've been lifting the players using every trick in the book and a few that aren't in there.
"It's all about confidence, they are not a group of bad players.
"But you see the heads go down when we go a goal behind, that's confidence."

And the Magpies have had plenty of practice at this recently, losing their last six matches on the bounce.

Six weeks ago they were 14 points above the relegation zone and seemingly a couple of wins from safety. However, form and fortune have been against them, plus some of their rivals at the bottom have finally found some form.

All this, on top of their inexplicably bad home form - just one league win all season - has challenged the players and the management staff, Hippolyte included.

He said: "It's been a learning curve for me, more so than the six previous years I've been managing.
"When you're winning things seem easier, however you find out a lot about yourself when you are losing.
"Its been rough and a real test. I have to be honest, I was really low last Tuesday and Wednesday after the Dorchester match.

"It was the lowest I have been. I was distraught, and that's the truth. But I've picked myself up because that's what I have to do, and am now focused on the players and getting the best out of them."