Maidstone boss Jay Saunders says there were times when team-talks felt like a lost cause.

That's changed since the arrival of loan players including Stuart Lewis, Reece Prestedge and Joe Pigott, with Stones on a seven-match unbeaten run.

Not only have the loan lads transformed results, they've also had a big impact in the dressing room.

Saunders said: “You always stick to your beliefs and what you think is right as a manager but better-quality players makes a difference.

“No disrespect to the lads we had but we’ve got better players now.

“We needed more experience too - I don’t think people realise how important that is.

“You get a feeling when players have given up and earlier in the season I’d go into the dressing room at half-time thinking no matter what I said, it was almost a lost cause.

“It’s the first time I’ve had that as a manager and it wasn’t nice, doubting whether you could get a response where confidence was so low.

“Now I go in at half-time and we’ve got cool heads in there.

“You’re talking and you can see the boys are taking it on board. They’ve got that belief and confidence."

Maidstone have eight games left, with promotion-chasing Forest Green, Lincoln and Tranmere to play in the final week.

Saunders, whose side host play-off hopefuls Barrow on Saturday, said: "Nerves will play a part at some point but it's the same for all the teams down there.

"I know we've got a lot of teams at the top to play but there's just as much pressure on them, in fact more because they're going for promotion."