STEVE CUNNINGHAM is hoping the return of fans' favourite Sam Walker will provide the impetus his CURZON ASHTON squad need to end a sequence of four consecutive defeats.
On Tuesday, after a 1-0 reverse at Gateshead in which his side hit the post three times, the Nash boss gave an emotional interview which he put down down to "an accumulation of things building up".
Today, after the dust had settled, he added: "It seems we get punished for every mistake. But no one has hammered us or scored a lot of goals against us.
"It's easy to knock from the sidelines but those people haven't seen what we're putting in. I've been working really hard to change this football club and for some reason we're just not getting the rewards.
"I'm sure that if we keep building and working the results will come. Maybe things will change now that Sam has come back. He's looked really fit and sharp in training and signing him is a massive coup for us.
"He could have waited till Chorley had played in the second round of the FA Cup but he wanted to join us straight away because he'd heard what we're trying to achieve here.
"For him to take a gamble by moving to Curzon not only shows what a character he is, but also that we must must be doing something right if we can attract players of his calibre.
"I think it's fair to describe Sam, who's a former club captain, as a Curzon legend. You've only got to look at social media to see the storm we've raised by signing him."
Walker, who is on a three-month loan, goes into the squad for tomorrow (Saturday's) visit to Kettering Town. Cunningham hopes the midfielder's presence will go some way to making up for the absence of Robbie Evans and Dale Whitham who are both injured. There is also no sign of a return for Marcus Poscha.
"Robbie and Dale have been key players in the last two games. They've really put themselves about and we'll miss their doggedness," the Nash boss said.
Kettering are 20th in the table having lost three out of four games, but after seeing his team lose to lower-placed sides three times in the last fortnight, Cunningham is paying no heed to that.
He said: "We won't be taking them lightly. They've had some close games and only lost to Southport by the odd goal. Kettering are a good side with plenty of threat while we've got a few injuries. It's a tough one to call."
Town manager Paul Cox wants his players to start converting the chances they create. He said: “I'm looking for a bit more ruthlessness. There have been fine lines in the games we've had with the teams who are currently the top three in the division.
“We need to be looking at those fine lines and improving in those areas if we want to be competitive this year. There are good teams in our league with good resources and we really need to be capitalising on the opportunities we create."
Curzon have also signed Jacob Hanson from Halifax. The young defender hasn't played since March and Cunningham describes him as someone not for the now, but to build up for the future.