Neal Ardley revealed how Notts County’s players were “getting stuck into each other” after their 2-1 defeat to Barnet as he insisted they cannot make excuses about their start to the season.
The Magpies suffered their second defeat in three games against the Bees at the weekend despite having taken the lead through a glorious Enzio Boldewijn strike.
But Callum Reynolds levelled as the game approached half-time after he benefitted from a poorly defended corner.
Notts huffed and puffed in the second half, but Simon Akinola won the game for the visitors when he raced through to clip an excellent finish beyond Sam Slocombe.
Ardley said he was disappointed with the nature of the goals his side conceded, but said before he had returned to the dressing room post-match, the players were already holding an inquest.
“We have to work hard at it, that’s all we can do,” he said.
“The boys were getting stuck into each other before I even arrived in the dressing room.
“I added to it. We all know where we stand and all you can do is work really hard on the pitch.
“We can’t make excuses such as we didn’t have this, or the players didn’t have a pre-season, or we’re a bit leggy.
“The other teams won’t be nice to us because of it.
“We’re a week into the campaign but it feels like a lot longer and we have to have more quality about the way we play.
“We have to look at Harrogate on Tuesday as a way to make amends.
“We’ve said the season starts again on Monday now and we have to come in and turn things around.”
Notts’ hopes of a victory suffered a setback after midfielder Jim O’Brien needed to be replaced early in the second half because of injury.
Ardley is already without captain Michael Doyle due to suspension which has depleted his options in the middle of the pitch.
The Notts boss says he cannot be sure if O’Brien will miss Tuesday’s trip to Harrogate and he will be assessed in the coming days.
But Ardley says the absence of key personnel in midfield has denied him the opportunity of giving players a rest amid a hectic schedule.
“Jim has had to come off and I think it is a bit of sciatica,” he said.
“Some players feel three games in a week and others can get through it.
“Jim is one of them, but we are limited on options at the moment.
“I don’t know whether he is going to be out for Tuesday yet.
“All your best-laid plans go out the window having lost Doyley and Damien McCrory because any rotation and being able to freshen up some of the players now can't happen.
“That’s the most disappointing thing is that we have to keep putting players to the world who we might have given a breather.
“We haven’t been able to do that.
“But I’ve said to the players it’s no good feeling sorry for yourselves, and no feeling tired.
“They are going to have to go again on Tuesday and with no excuses.”
