UNDER-FIRE boss Stuart Watkiss admits he must take the rap for "the worst back to back performances" of his Kidderminster Harriers reign, writes Mat Kendrick.
Home defeats to Forest Green Rovers and Halifax Town have undermined Harriers' steady start to the season and caused unrest at Aggborough.
"I'm stuggling to remember us playing worse than that in back to back games," said Watkiss, who insisted "no teacups were thrown" during a constructive dressing room post mortem after the Halifax defeat.
"I'm the manager. Ultimately I'm responsible and must face the music. I don't need telling that it was unacceptable, but I have been told.
"I can understand the crowd's frustration and their anger because I'm a football fan too. It was not just losing, it was the manner of the defeats.
"I knew it wasn't going to be plain-sailing and I knew there would be setbacks and we have to deal with them in a positive way through hard work."
Watkiss concedes that Harriers' home form has not been good enough all season.
"Even though we've won and drawn our first few games at home we haven't played well at home all season," he said.
"Away from home it's been a different story and we've compared favourably to all of our opponents, including Exeter.
"It is a worry, but it's up to me to come up with the answers."
The Aggborough boss revealed that he had spoken to the Harriers board following the back to back defeats and insisted that the message to supporters was 'Please be patient'.
"I have had a chat with the chairman about it, but all that was said was everyday business," said Watkiss.
"We know that we have been playing poorly, but it just goes to show what a cruel game this is.
"On Saturday morning everybody was fairly pleased with the start we'd made, but just four days later and a couple of poor performances seems to have undone everything that's gone before."
Martin O'Connor will miss Saturday's trips to Gravesend and Tuesday's visit to Crawley and the veteran midfielder's aches and pains could also see him rested for the home clashes against Tamworth and Morecambe.
It is a massive blow for Harriers who desperately need his leadership on the pitch.
"We're going to have shut Martin down for two or three weeks because he's feeling it at the moment and we don't want to make him any worse," said Watkiss.
"Obviously we're going to miss him but we'll just have to cope.
Wayne Graves (knee), Taiwo Atieno (ankle) and Michael Blackwood (personal problems) are also doubtful for Saturday.
l Match Reports - Page 102
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