The 2010 barren run has seen the Gladiators lose league and cup games at Nantwich Town, as well as defeats to North Ferriby United and Bradford Park Avenue.

Although only two teams are set to go down from a now reduced 20-club division, Matlock chief Mark Atkins is keen to bring their mid-season slump to a swift end.

He said: “We’ve not had the rub of the green in some games but equally we’ve not performed as well as we did before the bad weather came, so really we’ve only got ourselves to blame.”

“But we’ve got to keep on working hard, do the right things, and make sure that we turn things around as soon as we can.”

Defeat

The latest defeat was by a 3-1 margin to a Bradford side who are unbeaten away from home so far this season, and Atkins felt that the Gladiators’ opening to the game handed the initiative to the visitors.

“Bradford have a good squad, you only had to look at who they had on the bench to see that,” he said.

“All of their back four had played at least Conference North level recently, but in the first hour we showed them too much respect and they took advantage.

“They got the first goal which gave them a springboard for the rest of the game. The turning point was their second goal when we thought their lad climbed all over Scott Brough to set up the chance. But the ref allowed the goal.

“The team deserve credit for getting back to 2-1 by half-time and we thought we could get something out of the game.

“We were better in the second-half but we didn’t create enough before getting done by a deflection through the middle for the third goal which, to be fair, their lad took really well.”

Tough trip

Matlock’s last three league defeats have resulted in them conceding league doubles, but Saturday’s trip to sixth-placed Ashton United gives the Gladiators a chance to record their first league double of the campaign.

The Robins were put to the sword when they came to Causeway Lane as league leaders in November as Town’s best performance of the season saw them hammer five goals without reply.

Atkins said: “That was a very good performance and on the day everything went right. But we know Ashton are a good side and they’re not up in sixth place for nothing.

“But we’re going to go there with a positive attitude, work hard and battle together. On our day we can beat anyone.”

James Lukic is expected to serve a one-game suspension on Saturday following his sending off at North Ferriby, and while Matlock have received paperwork from the Football Association relating to the incident, there is no confirmation as yet of any ban.