Louis Storey says Carlisle United must be strong enough to overcome any anxiety at playing under pressure at Brunton Park.
The Blues assistant head coach admitted there may be “a touch” of nervousness among some players on home soil at the moment.
But he says high expectation is the regular reality at Carlisle’s ground and the mentality of the team must be strong enough to deal with it.
United are without a win in their last four home games ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup fourth round qualifying tie against Tamworth at Brunton Park.
Asked if an anxiety at home was playing a part in some performances, Storey said: “Yes, I think there is a touch of that, if I'm going to be completely honest.
“But that's at every football club who expects to get promoted, and to win titles, and to win the majority of the games.
“So that's a given. Everyone knows that when they come and sign up for this football club because we know we're playing at a level that we shouldn't be.
“But we have to earn the hard yards and we have to put in the performances to bounce back.”
Storey said the addition of experience in the transfer market ought to have a positive effect in this respect.
“We've got, on a relative terms, quite a young group. That's one of the reasons why, for example, Tom Anderson has joined the group, to add that bit of experience and being able to manage them those more high-pressure, high-stakes games and situations,” Rob Elliot’s assistant said.
“Ultimately, we know that we're lower in the table than we want to be. So every game does feel like a cup final and a great opportunity to close the gap and get closer to where we want to be.
“We can't shy away from that and that's something that we'll constantly get better at and constantly be working with the group in terms of making sure that we've got the right mentality.
“We can only win the game that's in front of us. We can only play the opposition that's in front of us. So we have to take it one action at a time.”
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