Barnsley head coach Lee Johnson hopes the next two cup fixtures will offer him and his players some respite from their dreadful league form.
The Reds are currently on their worst run since 1959 with seven successive league losses, just two away from the club record of nine set in the 1952-53 season. They are in the League One relegation zone while they have lost the most league matches of any club in that division.
Johnson sees the next two games – against Altrincham on Tuesday in the first round of the FA Cup and the Johnstone's Paint Trophy Northern Area quarter-final against York City on Tuesday – as a chance to turn things around.
He told the Chronicle: "We had a couple of bad losses but then won at Bradford (in the JPT) and got that bit of respite. I think the players feel that they want to win. They're frustrated, upset, angry and hurting like everybody else is. It's a chance for us and, depending on how you look at it, the glass is half full or empty. The players have to go out and get their best games out."
The win over Bradford City in the last round came two losses into this current losing streak. Johnson was encouraged by that display and says that, in spite of the losses, the players are giving their all. He added: "There's always been signs of life. Not in one game has anybody thrown the towel in or given up. It's going to pick up. We haven't been battered by anybody and the spirit's always been there. The quality hasn't always been there but there have been signs. Particularly early during that run we should never have lost some of those games."
Now the chance to beat part-time opposition in Altrincham and managerless York could act as a catalyst for their season and perhaps ensure Johnson is given more time to turn the club around. Johnson, who when asked if he felt he needed to win these two games to save his job said he did not know, added: "It's a nice separate challenge away from the league really and it's something the players can feel they're on the front foot in. I'm fully committed and I'm still up for it and positive. I don't want to make excuses and anything can be construed as an excuse.
"I'm still stubbornly and aggressively confident that, with our best 11 out and a couple of additions and our injured players back, that we can turn the season around and make it very positive. I know what we're doing is right. I know that we've had to make far too many changes so far. I came here for a reason. The club invested in me for a reason and we haven't quite had the luck to get the plan out completely. If that plan comes out completely then I think it will be fair to judge me. I hope that people see that I am giving my all and that's rubbing off on the players.
"The cream always rises and if we can do it in the right way then I believe we can rise. If I didn't believe that then there would be no point in me being here."
National League Altrincham are the first test and Johnson says they will be tough opponents. He added: "They're very solid and they work hard. We have got to make sure that we go out there and respect the opposition. Six or seven of their staff were at our game on Tuesday night so no doubt they will come up with a plan but our work started on them last week.
"There's nothing that we don't know about them. I'm buzzing for this game. It can't come around quick enough. It's going to be a tough game as they always are in the FA Cup. I love the FA Cup and I was delighted with the draw."
