MIKE Fowler admits league leaders Harborough Town set the benchmark for his Redditch United side after inflicting a first home defeat on the Reds.
Fowler lost at home for the first time as Redditch boss against Harborough who claimed a 3-0 victory at the Valley Stadium to remain unbeaten and top of the table.
The Reds sit one point outside of the play-off places after the first nine games of the Southern League Premier Central season.
And despite the defeat against Harborough, Fowler feels his side have exceeded expectations at the beginning of the campaign.
Fowler said: “We were beaten by the better team, that’s the benchmark, that’s the best we’ve played against this season.
“The disappointing thing for us is that we weren’t us. The things we were going after in the game, we didn’t apply ourselves in the right way.
“We were poor in spells because they were good. They were very good and asked a lot of questions, the first 15 minutes felt like three games back-to-back in that space of time.
“In a game like this you can’t have any passengers, you need to be at, they’ve shown why they’re top of the league and unbeaten.
“We’ve got a break before the next game. We’re nine games in, we’re in a position where there’s a trend, we’re going to reflect on what the first nine games have brought us.
“We’ve probably exceeded everyone’s expectations over the first nine game so we’re not going to capitulate over losing against the best team we’ve played against this season.”
The Reds have no scheduled fixture this weekend with Fowler keen to take stock of the club’s season so far.
And Fowler hinted at changes to the playing the squad before his side next take to the pitch with the Redditch boss intent on making a push for the play-offs.
Fowler added: “The team was good enough to win that game but what they did in the game wasn’t enough.
“That’s something we need to look at and get right.
“Some bodies coming in and some bodies leaving, that’s what’s going to have to happen.
“I’ve lost patience with a few things that need to change. I’ve asked it to be changed and tried to force it to be changed and it hasn’t happened.
“I’m not here to finish mid-table. I don’t want to finish mid-table and that’s what it looks like.
“I’ve got to make sure we’ve got the players to cope with the demands of the league to sustain a play-off push and that’s what we’re after.”
Redditch are next in action against Cleethorpes Town in the FA Trophy on Saturday, October 4 with kick-off at 3pm at The Linden.
