Joel Cooper insists his harshest critic will always be the one staring back at him in the mirror.
The 23-year-old continued his impressive form on Tuesday night by bagging Linfield's winning goal in their NI League Cup victory over Cliftonville.
Cooper has now scored 10 goals this season, but the former Glenavon man insists his early form still leaves a lot to be desired.
"Although I scored, I don't think I played that well against Cliftonville," Cooper said.
"I was disappointed a couple of times. I could have made better decisions at times in the game.
"I don't think I ever come off the pitch thinking I have played well. That's probably not the best mindset to have.
"Things stick in my head and annoy me, and they stick in my head for a week. Then I can't wait for the next game to come along.
"I am probably my harshest critic. The manager has actually said I have to be less critical.
"The first six games of the season I was really poor. I have probably stayed in the team because of injuries to other players.
"But they are coming back so that puts the pressure on me to perform. Jordan Stewart is returning, Daniel Kearns. And then all the young lads like Charlie Allen have been doing well.
"I can definitely do better, and there is more in me. It just annoys me when I don't perform the way I want to."
Cooper was denied a second goal on Tuesday night after his shot in the 24th minute looked well over the line before Aaron Donnelly cleared it.
It followed a mad scramble after Shayne Lavery's penalty was saved by Richard Brush, but play was waved on.
"I knew when I hit it that it was in," Cooper added.
"It kills you when it happens. If the ref gives us that goal then it makes things that little but more comfortable.
"Instead, Cliftonville were only one goal down and it makes things a good bit edgier.
"If they had scored, then that decision could have cost us a place in the semi-finals of the competition.
"Thankfully we did get an early goal and held out."
Linfield joined Crusaders, Coleraine and Institute in the semi-finals of the League Cup, the trophy they won last season en route to also clinching the league title.
The Blues currently sit fourth in the Premiership standings, five points behind leaders Coleraine who they lost to last Saturday.
"I think we have done okay so far," Cooper said.
"Away to Crusaders, I don't think we deserved to lose, but we did. And against Coleraine, I think last season we would have drawn that game.
"At Windsor we have looked very good, but we need to start grinding out results. We maybe need to change our game plan a bit when things aren't going our way.
"We are still in a good position, but we could be in a better position.
"We have Carrick on Saturday and they are always well organised. There will be no pressure on Carrick on Saturday, coming to Windsor.
"We know to expect a very tough challenge."
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