HAVE you ever wondered how a football manager and their team claw their way out of an horrific run of form?

Wholesale changes to the line-up? Signing new players? Running the riot act and demanding their players work even harder in training? Different bosses have different methods.

There can't have been too many teams at any level of English football who have had a worse run than Danny Forrest's Silsden so far this season.

Seven straight defeats in as many weeks for the Cobbydalers in the Toolstation Northern Counties East League Premier Division has seen them slide down the table.

And it's fair to say it was a long seven weeks for Forrest after their 7-1 victory over Garforth Town on September 7. Their record after this read defeats galore; 3-0, 3-0, 5-0, 3-1, 2-0, 2-1, 3-2.

But there was light at the end of the tunnel for them with a 4-2 victory at Knaresborough Town on October 22. However, they were unable to build on this as Silsden's home league date with Bridlington Town last Saturday was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch. Silsden are now 14th in the table with 12 points from their opening 11 games of the season.

Despite this victory, Forrest reflected on how he, his coaching staff and his squad got through their horrific run.

Forrest said: "It was a mixture of emotions (to win at Knaresborough). We just had to keep going and keep believing in ourselves.

"Some of the defeats were not warranted with our performances. We need to be more ruthless in both boxes, every mistake was punished. We need to be more clinical.

"We're all happy. I've got a good team of staff.

"Seven defeats in a row has to be the worst run I've ever had as a player or manager or coach. It was a new experience without a doubt.

"You start questioning yourself a little bit. But I have always had belief in what we are doing. I've always stuck to that. There were no wholesale changes. We have trained as we have done.

"I made a few changes to our system, in personnel on Tuesday (at Knaresborough) to freshen it up.

"I have a big belief in what I do."

Former Bradford City forward Forrest, 35, who has lined up for Silsden this season, says his side's poor run was not down to their change in leagues in the summer, insisting Silsden have a healthy goal threat through the likes of Laurence Sorhaindo, Aidan Kirby and new signing Marco Basic.

Forrest added: "In this league you've got teams that want to play more and teams that want to go longer.

"We only had ourselves to blame for the run we were on. We now have a platform to improve and to kick on.

"We can climb up the table now. We didn't have enough goals in general last year. That's one thing I wanted us to improve on this year. Laurence (Sorhaindo) when properly fit, I knew he'd be a success. He scored four in three games before last Saturday.

"It is in defeats that your learn. We have learned a lot about the group. We have a decent formula."

Silsden now move on after last weekend's washout with a re-arranged fixture on Saturday.

They were scheduled to play Grimsby Borough but they have an FA Vase second round tie which takes precedence on the league fixture. Instead, Silsden, who have already been knocked out of the cup competition, by Newton Aycliffe in a 2-1 loss on August 31, will travel to Albion Sports in a derby clash.