Two points from their last five games, interspersed with three postponements, has left Albion Sports without a win since the middle of January and manager Kulwinder Sandhu a very unhappy man.

Albion lost 3-1 at Long Eaton United in midweek to leave the club seventh in the Toolstation Northern Counties East League Premier Division table but only six points above Bridlington Town, who are just in the bottom half.

Sandhu said: “I think this is the worst run we’ve had since we came into this league and it is tough to take.

“As a manager, you find out so much more about your players when you’re on a bad run than you ever do when things are going well.

“Some players have found their level and it’s disappointing – but we will all learn from it.”

Albion entered the semi-professional ranks three seasons ago and, after establishing themselves in Division One of the NCE League set-up, they won the title at the second time of asking.

Sandhu said: “There are a lot of positive things we can take from this season – but not if we allow it to just fizzle out.

“We have to put a good run in between now and the end of the campaign. It’s difficult, and some things have gone against us, but you have to keep improving and moving forward.

“We’ve had a lot of players missing. We only had 12 when we went to Long Eaton and then we lost Sam Redhead, who was stretchered off and taken to hospital after a late challenge in the first half.

“The season has caught up with us really – but we are a small club with a minimal budget, so it was always going to.

“We have to look at areas that we can improve and that means every aspect of the football club.”