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James Collins is desperate to deliver a victory for Faversham Town supporters in a game he’s billed as the biggest of his time in charge.
The Lilywhites host bottom side East Grinstead at Salters Lane on Saturday looking to end a run of 11 Isthmian South East matches without a win.
They were beaten 3-0 at fellow strugglers Ramsgate last weekend and boss Collins wants a reaction as Town, who’ve dropped to 17th, bid to avoid being sucked into a relegation scrap.
Faversham are 15 points clear of East Grinstead but the Wasps have four games in hand.
Collins said: “I think it’s a big game, certainly the biggest we’ve had since I’ve been here, and we owe the supporters a performance.
“We’ve just got beat 3-0 – convincingly – by the team below us so we do really need a result on Saturday.
“I don’t know if we’re in a relegation scrap.
“I think we need one more win and Saturday would be a good time to get it.
“If they beat us they’re 12 points behind with four games in hand and it gives them a bit of belief, but if we beat them it takes away any thoughts of relegation for us.
“We’ve just got keep plugging away and once we get that win, I’m sure we’ll kick on and get a couple more.”
Faversham’s last victory was against Chichester on January 4.
They’ve been close since then, conceding last-gasp equalisers against Whitehawk, Herne Bay and Phoenix but the win just hasn’t come.
Collins said: “We’ve been desperately unlucky in some games and nowhere near good enough in others.
“We’re actually not a million miles off.
“There’s a team in there somewhere, it’s just every week we seem to be carrying one or two players.
“When everyone’s on it we give ourselves half a chance but we need everyone on it week in, week out to get anything.
“If two or three drop below the level, everyone struggles and unfortunately that’s the difference between this league and the league below.
“In this league you can’t afford to carry anyone.
“We’ve been desperately unlucky with some of the refereeing decisions that have been given against us as well but you’ve just got to keep working hard and hope your luck will change.
“I think we’ll play well enough to get some more points on the board.
“There’s also five or six players I’d take into next season and, ultimately, that’s what we wanted but I do need a pre-season to sort things out.”
